India’s opposition Congress party urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Saturday to investigate Foxconn’s hiring practices following a Reuters report that the Apple supplier rejects married women for iPhone assembly jobs in the country.
The government has requested a detailed report from Tamil Nadu, where a major iPhone factory is located, in response to the report. This story has ignited debates on TV channels, newspaper editorials, and calls from women’s groups, including some within Modi’s party, for an investigation.
Congress lawmaker Karti P. Chidambaram wrote to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, stating that Foxconn receives “substantial incentives” from the federal government and should be asked to explain its practices to ensure compliance with “Indian laws and values.”
“While foreign investment is crucial, it should not come at the cost of disregarding our cultural values,” Chidambaram wrote in the letter, which was posted on X.
In response to the investigation published on Tuesday, Apple and Foxconn acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and stated they had worked to address the issues. However, Reuters documented that the discriminatory practices at the Sriperumbudur plant occurred in 2023 and 2024.
Foxconn stated it “vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion, or any other form.”
