1 July 2024 Punjab Khabarnama : On Monday, the human rights watchdog of India stated that it has requested government officials to investigate the alleged discrimination by Foxconn. This comes after a Reuters investigation revealed that the prominent Apple supplier has been refusing to hire married women for iPhone assembly positions in the country.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent notices to the secretary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s labour ministry and the chief secretary of the Tamil Nadu state government, where a significant iPhone factory is located. The NHRC has requested a comprehensive report within a week.
The NHRC notes that if the matter is true, it raises a significant concern regarding the discrimination faced by married women, which leads to a violation of their right to equality and equal opportunities.
The Reuters story has ignited discussions on television channels, newspaper editorials, and calls from women’s groups, both within Modi’s party and opposition parties, to conduct an investigation. Additionally, Modi’s central government has requested a comprehensive report from the state of Tamil Nadu.
Modi’s labour ministry, Apple and Taiwan-based Foxconn did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A Tamil Nadu government spokesman referred questions to its labour department, which did not respond.
According to the Reuters investigation, Foxconn deliberately did not hire married women for jobs at its primary iPhone plant in India, claiming that they have more family responsibilities compared to unmarried women. Hiring agents and HR sources from Foxconn mentioned family duties, pregnancy, and higher absenteeism as reasons for this exclusion.
In response to the investigation published last week, Apple and Foxconn admitted to shortcomings in their hiring practices in 2022 and stated that they have taken steps to rectify the problems. However, it should be noted that all the discriminatory practices reported by Reuters at the Tamil Nadu plant occurred in 2023 and 2024, and these incidents were not addressed by the companies.
The NHRC has observed that gender equality is not only mandated by the Indian constitution but also by international treaties and covenants. Additionally, it emphasized that state authorities should ensure that all companies comply with labor laws and regulations.
