25% Of New Hires Are Married Women: iPhone Maker Foxconn Dismisses Hiring Bias Reports

New Delhi: Apple iPhone maker Foxconn has informed the government that 25 per cent of its new hires are married women and its safety protocol, which requires all employees to avoid wearing metal irrespective of gender or religion, is not discriminatory, reports said.  

In an informal note shared with the government after reports suggested it is "not hiring married women", Foxconn stated that such stipulations are not part of its policy and these claims may have been made by those individuals who were not hired, news agency PTI reported quoting sources.

"Such media reports malign the fast-growing Indian manufacturing sector", the company reportedly stated.

Foxconn's clarification comes a day after the Ministry of Labour and Employment sought a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu labour department on the issue of married women not being allowed to work at the firm. Section 5 of the Equal Remuneration Act 1976 clearly stipulates that no discrimination is to be made while recruiting men and women workers, the labour ministry said in a statement.

As the state government is the appropriate authority for the enforcement and administration of the provisions of this Act, the report has been sought from it, it stated. At the same time, it stated that the office of Regional Chief Labour Commissioner has also been directed to furnish the report to the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India.

Foxconn also addressed concerns regarding alleged discrimination against Hindu married women for wearing metal ornaments and jewellery, stating that such claims are "entirely slanted." The company clarified that wearing metal in factories poses a safety issue, a fact acknowledged by both the industry and the government.

Foxconn said that the media reports are based on anecdotal comments from a small group of 5-10 individuals, possibly candidates who were not hired or former employees. Moreover, the company maintained that such reports misrepresent the situation and unfairly malign the fast-growing Indian manufacturing sector.