Foxconn not hiring married women at Tamil Nadu iPhone plant, centre seeks report

The Union government has taken note of various media reports claiming that married women are not being allowed to work at Foxconn India Apple iPhone plant. In light of these reports, the government has requested a detailed report from the Labour Department of the Tamil Nadu Government.

Reuters also reported that married women who sought jobs at Foxconn were not even allowed to enter the premises and were asked about their marital status by the security guard.

The Labour Ministry, in a press release on Wednesday said that Section 5 of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, clearly stipulates that no discrimination should be made while recruiting men and women workers. As the Tamil Nadu government is the appropriate authority for the enforcement and administration of the provisions of this Act, the report has been sought from the state government.

Taiwan-headquartered electronics giant Foxconn produces iPhones for Apple at its factory in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The report cited the company’s former and current employees saying that family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism are some of the reasons why Foxconn did not hire married women at the plant located at Sriperumbudur.

Foxconn hiring agents and HR sources cited family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons why Foxconn did not hire married women at the plant, as per Reuter report.