Following a Reuters investigation, Apple supplier Foxconn has removed discriminatory requirements from its iPhone assembly job postings. The investigation revealed that some recruitment posters specifically targeted unmarried women between the ages of 18 and 32.
Reuters reviewed multiple job applications between January 2023 and May 2024, finding requirements for unmarried women of specific ages. Foxconn, which employs thousands of women at its iPhone factory in Sriperumbudur, India, outsources recruitment to third-party vendors.
These recruitment practices contradict Apple and Foxconn's anti-discrimination policies. Neither company has commented on the investigation. However, after the news broke, Foxconn's HR instructed recruitment agents to standardize materials and avoid speaking to the media.
One anonymous agent revealed that Foxconn executives had previously warned against using the company's name in ads and instructed recruiters to remove specifications related to gender, age, and marital status. Communications consultant Dilip Cherian suggested that the negative publicity prompted Foxconn to quickly change its practices to protect Apple's reputation.
It remains unclear whether this change represents a genuine shift in Foxconn's policies or a reaction to external pressure. The practice of targeting unmarried women within a specific age group may have been motivated by a desire for workers who could work longer hours and resist burnout without family obligations.
The legal ramifications for Foxconn are uncertain, and it remains to be seen what actions Apple will take to prevent similar incidents in the future. Read the full Reuters report .
