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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Man dragged into river by crocodile in Vadodara; search ops underway
Vadodara (PTI): A 22-year-old man was dragged into a river by a crocodile in Gujarat's Vadodara district on Thursday and search operations are currently underway to locate him, a police official said.
The incident took place at 1:30pm when Mithun Vasava, a resident of Kagdipara village, had gone to take a dip in Dev river amid the stifling heat, the official told PTI.
"The crocodile suddenly attacked the man and dragged him into the river. Search operations are currently underway to locate Vasava," the official added.
