Key Points
- An investigative report alleged that Foxconn discriminates against married women while hiring workers.
- The company's chariman has denied the allegations.
- New Delhi has ordered an investigation into the allegations.
The head of a company that supplies products for Apple has denied reports it was rejecting married women from iPhone assembly jobs in India.
The Indian government has ordered investigations into allegations that Apple supplier Foxconn systematically excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone assembly plant on the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts.
"Foxconn hires regardless of gender, but women make up a big part of our workforce here," Foxconn chair Young Liu said during the opening ceremony for a hostel complex for its workers in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
"I emphasise married women greatly contribute to the efforts of what we're doing here," he added, making his first comments since the investigation.
Liu did not take questions from media at the hostel complex that the state government says is "exclusive" to 18,720 Foxconn women workers. The multi-storey hostel buildings are located close to the iPhone-making plant.
What does Foxconn say about gender discrimination?
Foxconn acknowledged some lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and said it had worked to address the issues, but added that it "vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination".
The story triggered TV debates and newspaper editorials in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's federal government ordered Tamil Nadu to provide a "detailed report" on it, and his labour officials also visited the iPhone factory to question executives.
New Delhi has not yet released any findings.
Foxconn told labour officials its main India iPhone factory employs 41,281 people, including 33,360 women. Of these women some 2,750, or about 8 per cent, were married.
It did not break down the staffing figures into specific areas such as iPhone assembly, where Reuters reported the discrimination was taking place.
Foxconn in recent years has expanded in India, where it makes iPhones and products for other smartphone brands, and has plans to move into AirPods and chipmaking.
Liu has met Modi and many top Indian officials during his ongoing visit, and discussed Foxconn's investment plans.
