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18/08/2024

Foxconn Chairman Highlights The Contributions Of Married Women Amid Scrutiny Over Hiring Practices




Foxconn Chairman Highlights The Contributions Of Married Women Amid Scrutiny Over Hiring Practices
Foxconn's chairman, Young Liu, on Saturday emphasized the significant role married women play in the company's workforce amidst ongoing investigations ordered by New Delhi. These investigations were triggered by a Reuters report that accused the Apple supplier of rejecting married women for iPhone assembly jobs.
 
"Foxconn hires regardless of gender, but women make up a big part of our workforce here," Liu stated during the inauguration of a new hostel complex for workers near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. He made these remarks in his first public response since the Reuters investigation was published. "I emphasize married women greatly contribute to the efforts of what we're doing here," Liu added.
 
The hostel complex, touted as "exclusive" for 18,720 Foxconn women workers by the Tamil Nadu state government, is located near the iPhone production facility. However, Liu did not take questions from the media during the event.
 
The Reuters investigation, released in June, accused Foxconn of systematically excluding married women from jobs at its main India iPhone assembly plant due to their family responsibilities. While Foxconn admitted to some lapses in its hiring practices in 2022 and claimed to have addressed the issues, the company "vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination."
 
The report has sparked widespread debate, leading to TV discussions and newspaper editorials. The federal government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instructed Tamil Nadu to prepare a detailed report on the matter, and labour officials visited the iPhone factory to question executives. However, New Delhi has not yet released any findings.
 
Foxconn informed labour officials that its main iPhone factory in India employs 41,281 people, including 33,360 women, of whom about 8%, or 2,750, are married. The company did not specify staffing details for the iPhone assembly area, where the alleged discrimination reportedly occurred.
 
As Foxconn continues its expansion in India, including plans to venture into AirPods and chipmaking, Liu has met with Prime Minister Modi and other top Indian officials to discuss the company's future investment plans.
 
(Source:www.business-standard.com)
 

Christopher J. Mitchell

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