Apple supplier Foxconn accused of avoiding hiring married women

Foxconn, the largest supplier of Apple iPhones, has been accused of avoiding hiring married women. A Reuters investigation revealed that the Taiwanese company categorially rejected several married female candidates for iPhone assembly jobs at its Sriperumbudur factory in the Tamil Nadu state of India. The Indian government has sought a detailed report on the matter from the state’s labor department. Foxconn denied the claim saying 25% of its new hires are married women.

Foxconn accused of discriminatory hiring against married women at its Apple factory

In a lengthy report, Reuters detailed how Foxconn has “systematically excluded married women” from jobs at its biggest iPhone assembly plant near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The firm has verbally instructed its recruitment agencies to reject female candidates who are married. It doesn’t want to hire married women because “they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts,” which is an absurd reason to reject someone for a job.

During its investigation, the publication talked with dozens of people. These included former and current Foxconn employees and female candidates who the company rejected for being married. They said the Taiwanese firm avoids married women because of “cultural issues”. It believes women have “many issues post-marriage,” such as pregnancy and motherhood, that lead to higher absenteeism. Even auto-rickshaw drivers around Foxconn’s factory know these hiring rules.

When Reuters reached out to Apple and Foxconn about these claims from multiple individuals, they “acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022.” The companies didn’t specify whether those “lapses” were related to the hiring of married women. They did assure that they have addressed the issues. However, the publication says these discriminatory practices happened in 2023 and 2024. So, it seems Foxconn still avoids hiring married women in India.

“When concerns about hiring practices were first raised in 2022 we immediately took action and worked with our supplier to conduct monthly audits to identify issues and ensure that our high standards are upheld,” Apple said in a statement. “All of our suppliers in India hire married women, including Foxconn.” In a separate statement, Foxconn said it “vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion or any other form.”

The Indian government is looking into the matter

Following Reuters’s report, the Narendra Modi-led Indian government’s Ministry of Labor and Employment wrote to the Tamil Nadu labor department seeking a detailed report on Foxconn’s hiring process at its Apple iPhone assembly plant. While the matter is under investigation, the company shared an informal note with the government saying the allegations are baseless. It claims that 25% of its recent hires at the Sriperumbudur factory are married women.

Foxconn said that “the media report is based on anecdotal comments by 5-10 people or potential job seekers.” They likely made the comments after failing to land a job for some other reason. According to The Economic Times, 70% of employees at the iPhone assembly plant in Tamil Nadu are women. It is reportedly “the largest factory for women employment” in India. During peak periods, the total employment at the factory crosses 45,000 workers.