Foxconn, a leading supplier for Apple, has implemented significant changes to its hiring practices in India. The move comes after a Reuters investigation in June 2023 uncovered discriminatory recruitment criteria at Foxconn’s main iPhone assembly plant in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai. The factory, which employs thousands of women, had excluded married women from assembly-line roles, a practice at odds with the anti-discrimination policies of both Foxconn and Apple.
This exposé triggered a wave of changes in the way hiring agents advertise these positions, raising questions about the long-term impact on India’s manufacturing ecosystem and Foxconn’s commitment to fair employment practices.
The Reuters investigation reviewed job advertisements from Foxconn’s Indian hiring vendors posted between January 2023 and May 2024. These ads stipulated that only unmarried women within specific age brackets could apply for smartphone assembly roles. This practice persisted despite high-production periods when Foxconn temporarily relaxed these requirements to meet demand.
In response to the public outcry following the investigation, Foxconn instructed its third-party recruiters to standardize their job advertisements. New templates omitted any mention of marital status, age, or gender. Additionally, recruiters were warned against using Foxconn’s name in advertisements and speaking to the media. The consequences for non-compliance were severe, with contracts threatened for termination.
The revised advertisements, which emerged in October, marked a stark departure from previous iterations. The updated job postings, devoid of Foxconn’s branding, focused on the benefits of the roles:
Air-conditioned workplaces
Free transportation
Subsidized canteen facilities
Hostel accommodations
Monthly salaries of ₹14,974 ($177 USD)
These changes aligned with Foxconn’s internal directives to hiring vendors. However, some recruiters expressed concerns over the lack of clarity regarding whether the changes reflected a genuine policy shift or were merely cosmetic adjustments designed to mitigate reputational damage.
Despite Foxconn and Apple asserting that the company employs married women in India, the investigation highlighted systemic exclusion. While recent changes to job advertisements suggest a shift in policy, it remains unclear whether married women are now being actively recruited in larger numbers.
Recruiters remain tight-lipped, with many declining to discuss hiring practices. For example, Groveman Global, a prominent Foxconn hiring vendor, had previously advertised jobs exclusively for unmarried women aged 18 to 32. Recent advertisements from the agency now omit such discriminatory language, though company representatives refused to comment on the changes.
The revelations prompted federal and state authorities in India to launch investigations into Foxconn’s hiring practices. Labor officials conducted site visits and interviewed Foxconn executives in July 2023. However, the findings of these probes remain undisclosed. A Reuters request for information under India’s Right to Information Act was denied, with Tamil Nadu state officials citing confidentiality concerns.
Foxconn’s influence in India is deeply tied to its role in Apple’s supply chain and its contributions to India’s manufacturing ambitions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government views the company as a cornerstone of its economic strategy, helping India move up the value chain in global electronics manufacturing.
India has emerged as a key alternative manufacturing base for Apple amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. Foxconn’s presence in India, particularly its iPhone assembly plant near Chennai, is critical to these efforts. Chairman Young Liu’s visit to India in August underscored the importance of this relationship. He emphasized the contributions of married women to Foxconn’s operations and discussed investment plans with Modi.
However, experts argue that media scrutiny and government investigations have forced Foxconn to re-evaluate its practices. Dilip Cherian, co-founder of public relations firm Perfect Relations, noted that the changes to job advertisements appear to be a response to reputational concerns. “It remains to be seen whether this move represents a real change of heart or just a cosmetic and appropriately legal response to the fact that they have been called out,” Cherian said.
Foxconn’s swift reaction to the Reuters investigation reflects the growing sensitivity of multinational companies to public perception, particularly in markets like India, where labor practices are increasingly scrutinized.
While Foxconn’s changes to hiring advertisements indicate a step toward compliance with anti-discrimination policies, the lack of transparency in its internal hiring processes leaves questions unanswered. The company’s decision to bar recruiters from mentioning Foxconn in job postings also raises concerns about accountability.
Apple, Foxconn’s primary client, has maintained a policy of non-comment on the matter. However, as the world’s most valuable technology company, Apple faces growing pressure to ensure that its suppliers uphold ethical labor practices globally.
The ongoing transformation in Foxconn’s hiring practices could have broader implications for labor dynamics in India’s electronics manufacturing sector. With India positioning itself as a global manufacturing hub, ensuring equitable employment opportunities is critical for sustainable growth.
