Foxconn orders indian recruiters to drop discriminatory criteria from job ads
Chennai: Following a Reuters investigation highlighting discriminatory hiring practices, Apple supplier Foxconn has instructed its recruitment agencies in India to eliminate age, gender, and marital status criteria from job advertisements for iPhone assembly workers.
The investigation revealed that Foxconn excluded married women from jobs at its Sriperumbudur plant near Chennai, though such restrictions were relaxed during high-production periods. Foxconn reportedly employs thousands of women at this facility, with recruitment handled by third-party agencies.
In June, Reuters reviewed job ads by Foxconn’s Indian hiring vendors, posted between January 2023 and May 2024, specifying eligibility criteria for unmarried women of specific age groups. This contravened Apple and Foxconn’s anti-discrimination policies. Following the report, Foxconn directed vendors to standardise recruitment materials and omit the company's name from advertisements.
Sources revealed that vendors were warned against using discriminatory language, such as marital status or gender, in job postings. Advertisements now focus on benefits like air-conditioned workplaces, free transport, and hostel facilities, offering a monthly salary of ₹14,974.
Government investigations into these practices were initiated, but findings remain undisclosed. Labour officials inspected the facility in July, yet state and federal authorities have not commented on the outcomes.
Dilip Cherian, a public relations consultant, said the media scrutiny might have pushed Foxconn to make changes, though it remains unclear whether these represent substantial reforms.
Foxconn Chairman Young Liu, during a visit to India in August, emphasised the contribution of married women in the company’s efforts. This issue arises as Apple and Foxconn expand operations in India amid geopolitical tensions between China and the United States.
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Former minister C M Ibrahim announces to launch new regional party for Karnataka
Kalaburagi: Two years after being expelled from the Janata Dal (Secular), former minister C.M. Ibrahim has announced that he will launch a new regional political party in Karnataka on January 24, reported Deccan Herald.
Speaking at a meeting organised by the Nava Karnataka Nirmana Andolana in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Ibrahim confirmed the birth of the new party.
The 77-year-old politician stated he would soon be meeting with other like-minded individuals to choose a symbol for the party.
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Ibrahim emphasised that the organisation would be guided by the principles of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna and the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
A veteran politician, Ibrahim served as Union Civil Aviation Minister during the tenure of H.D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister and later headed the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal (Secular). He was expelled from the JD(S) in 2023 on charges of anti-party activities.
His exit from the party followed sharp differences over the JD(S) decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the then state president of the JD(S), Ibrahim had publicly criticised the alliance, claiming it was finalised without his knowledge. He had also reportedly convened meetings of his supporters and expressed support for the INDIA bloc.
