Indian labour officials visited Foxconn’s factory near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, earlier this week to question company executives regarding their hiring practices, following a Reuters investigation that reported the exclusion of married women from assembly jobs at the plant. The visit, which took place on July 1, was conducted by a five-member team from the federal government’s regional labour department. A. Narasaiah, the regional labour commissioner, confirmed the visit in a telephone interview with Reuters on Wednesday.
The inspection comes in the wake of concerns raised by the investigation, which revealed that Foxconn, a major supplier to Apple, had been rejecting married women from jobs at its iPhone assembly plant due to perceived family responsibilities and the risk of absenteeism related to pregnancy and child care. Following these revelations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government instructed state officials and the federal Regional Chief Labour Commissioner’s office to compile detailed reports on Foxconn’s hiring policies.
Narasaiah stated that the labour department team is in the process of gathering information and has requested the company to submit documents detailing its company policies, recruitment practices, and evidence of compliance with labour laws. The team also asked for information on maternity and retirement benefits provided to employees. “They told us they are not discriminating,” Narasaiah said, adding that Foxconn had claimed the factory currently employs 41,281 workers, of which 33,360 are women. Out of these women, 2,750, or about 8%, are married.
However, Foxconn did not provide a breakdown of these staffing numbers specific to the iPhone assembly unit, where Reuters had reported the discriminatory hiring practices were taking place. Narasaiah said that labour inspectors interviewed 40 married women inside the plant, none of whom raised concerns about being discriminated against in their hiring or treatment.
At this stage, the labour department has not indicated plans to question Foxconn’s third-party hiring agents, who play a significant role in recruiting candidates and presenting them to the company for interviews. These hiring agents were cited in the Reuters investigation as being involved in the discriminatory hiring process, often excluding married women on the grounds that they had higher family responsibilities, a greater likelihood of taking leave, and were more likely to face pregnancy-related absences.
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The Reuters report, which was published last week, also found that during peak production periods, Foxconn occasionally relaxed its policy of excluding married women from assembly jobs. This revelation has ignited a debate across Indian media, with TV news programs, newspaper editorials, and women’s advocacy groups calling for a deeper investigation into the company’s employment practices. The issue has also gained political traction, with members of the opposition and women’s groups, including factions within Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), urging action.
In response to the Reuters investigation, both Foxconn and Apple acknowledged that there had been lapses in hiring practices in 2022, which they said were addressed through internal reforms. However, the investigation revealed that discriminatory practices persisted into 2023 and 2024. Neither company has directly addressed the more recent claims. Foxconn, which is also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, has consistently denied allegations of discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion, or any other factor.
Apple has reiterated its commitment to maintaining high labour standards across its supply chain. In response to concerns raised in 2022, the company said it took immediate action, working with Foxconn to conduct monthly audits to ensure that the company adhered to its hiring standards. Apple added that all its suppliers, including Foxconn, are required to hire married women without discrimination. However, the ongoing issues reported in 2023 and 2024 remain a point of contention.
While Indian labour law does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on marital status, both Apple and Foxconn have policies that prohibit such discriminatory practices within their supply chains. As the investigation continues, the scrutiny of Foxconn’s hiring practices is likely to intensify, with further reports from government officials and possible legal or policy changes on the horizon.
