Recruiters at Apple iPhone maker Foxconn disqualify married women after outrage

Apple iPhone supplier Foxconn has revised its recruitment standards in India, instructing its headhunters to remove marital status-related conditions from job advertisements. The updates come in the wake of media scrutiny and a government investigation into discriminatory practices at the Taiwanese company’s Sriperumbudur iPhone factory near Chennai.

The revised job posting removes previous discriminatory criteria that excluded married women from assembly line positions. Recruitment agents have been told to use Foxconn-approved templates to standardize ads and avoid mentioning company names, Reuters the report said.

A Reuters investigation revealed that some job ads violated Foxconn and Apple’s anti-discrimination policies by excluding married women from applying for assembly line jobs. However, these restrictions were reportedly relaxed during peak production periods. Reuters Report.

An unnamed recruitment agent confirmed that Foxconn human resources executives warned them not to use the company’s name in future advertising.

“They told us not to mention marital status, age or gender. If we didn’t comply, our contract would be terminated,” the agency said, quoted Reuters.

New job ad, reviewer Reuters October, consistent with these directives. The updated ads describe benefits such as air-conditioned workplaces and free accommodation, omitting Foxconn’s name and any criteria related to gender or marital status, the report added.

In response to the allegations, the Indian government launched federal and state investigations into Foxconn’s hiring practices. Labor officials visited the plant in July and interviewed company executives. However, neither the federal government nor Tamil Nadu state officials disclosed the findings of the investigation.

Foxconn and Apple declined to comment

Foxconn and Apple declined to comment on the changes to job ads. Although Foxconn has previously said it hires married women in India, it’s unclear whether the revised advertising practices are indicative of a broader shift in its hiring policies.

Dilip Cherian, co-founder of Indian public relations firm Perfect Relations, said media scrutiny forced Foxconn to take action. “Whether this represents a real policy change or a legal tweak to avoid criticism remains to be seen,” Reuters quoted Cherian as saying.

Foxconn Chairman Liu Yang highlighted the contribution of married women to the company during a visit to India in August. The report added that he also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss investment plans and emphasized that Foxconn will continue to focus on India, a key market.

The long-term impact of these policy changes on Foxconn’s hiring practices remains uncertain as public and government concerns continue, the report said.