India opposition asks Modi government to question Foxconn hiring practices

India's opposition Congress urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Saturday to question Foxconn about its hiring practices after Reuters reported that the Apple supplierrejects married womenfrom iPhone assembly jobs in the country.

The government has sought adetailed reportfrom the state of Tamil Nadu، site of a major iPhone factory where Reuters uncovered Foxconn's hiring practices. The story has sparked debates on TV channels، newspaper editorials and calls fromwomen groups، including withinModi's party،to investigate the matter.

Congress lawmaker Karti P. Chidambaram wrote in a letter to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya that Foxconn receives "substantial incentives" from the federal government and the company should be asked to explain its practices to ensure it complies 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، posted on X.

Apple، Taiwan-based Foxconnand the ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Congress letter.

Excluding married women

The Reuters investigation found Foxconn has systematically excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone plant on the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts.

Foxconn hiring agents and HR sources cited family duties، pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons for not hiring married women.

Responding to the investigation، published on Tuesday، Apple and Foxconn acknowledged to Reuters lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and said they had worked to address the issues. All the discriminatory practices documented by Reuters at the Sriperumbudur plant، however، took place in 2023 and 2024.

Foxconn said it "vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status، gender، religion or any other form."

Apple said all its suppliers، including Foxconn، hire married women and "when concerns about hiring practices were first raised in 2022 we immediately took action and worked with our supplier to conduct monthly audits to identify issues and ensure that our high standards are upheld."

The Foxconn positions in India offer food and accommodation and a monthly paycheck of about $200. In China، six online job ads reviewed by Reuters showed workers engaged in iPhone assembly at Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant can earn $400 to $800 a month. The ads did not mention marital status or gender requirements.