Hiring at Foxconn: Report sought from Tamil Nadu labour dept

CHENNAI: Union ministry of labour and employment has sought a report from Tamil Nadu labour department regarding reports of married women not being allowed to work at Foxconn India plant.
It said the state govt is the appropriate authority for the enforcement of the relevant labour regulations and hence a report has been sought.
The ministry said it has taken note of various media reports claiming that married women are not being allowed to work at Foxconn India plant."Section 5 of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 clearly stipulates that no discrimination to be made while recruiting men and women workers," it said according to a press statement from the PIB on Wednesday.
The office of regional chief labour commissioner has also been directed to furnish the factual report to the Union ministry of labour and employment.
At the time of going to press, both Apple and Foxconn (Hon Hai Technology Group) had not responded to the messages sent to them by TOI.
Neither the Tamil Nadu labour minister, nor the state labour secretary could be reached for their comments.
Earlier an agency report accused Foxconn India, the contract manufacturer of Apple iPhone devices, of discrimination against married women citing their penchant to take more leaves for family reasons and pregnancy. The report said iPhone workforce is further sub-contracted to more than 30 manpower agencies and they selectively scout for unmarried women candidates.
Taiwan-headquartered electronics giant Foxconn produces iPhones for Apple at its factory in Sriperumbudur near Chennai.