The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken action against Foxconn, a prominent manufacturer of Apple devices, over allegations of gender discrimination in hiring practices at its iPhone assembly plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. On Monday, the human rights watchdog issued notices to both the Union Labour Ministry and the Tamil Nadu government, initiating an investigation into the matter.
The NHRC’s action stems from media reports alleging that Foxconn has systematically excluded married women from employment opportunities at its Sriperumbudur facility. These reports cite a former human resource executive at Foxconn who claimed that verbal directives were issued to recruitment agencies regarding this discriminatory policy. The NHRC’s statement further points out that media reports attribute the company’s alleged discriminatory practices to “cultural issues and societal pressure,” stating that Foxconn does not hire married women.
In response to these allegations, Foxconn has refuted the claims of discrimination, asserting that 25% of its recent hires are married women. The company has also defended its safety protocols, which require all employees to avoid wearing metal regardless of gender or religion, stating that they are not discriminatory.
Despite Foxconn’s denial, the NHRC considers the allegations serious, raising concerns about the violation of the right to equality and equal opportunity for married women. The commission has requested a detailed report from both the Union Labour Ministry and the Tamil Nadu government within one week.
The NHRC’s investigation is based on media reports dating back to June 26, 2023, which included interviews with job seekers and an examination of the company’s candidate information pamphlet. These reports revealed that only unmarried women were eligible for assembly jobs, despite no mention of this requirement in the company’s advertisements.
Furthermore, a WhatsApp chat between a married job candidate and the hiring agency, cited in the reports, revealed that the candidate was told “married not allowed” when inquiring about salary and childcare facilities.
The NHRC emphasizes that gender equality is not only a fundamental principle enshrined in the Indian Constitution but is also a key provision in international treaties and covenants such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. These agreements explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender in any form of employment.
