The ads, aimed at hiring female workers for iPhone assembly lines in India, specified that lThe women had to be young, single and be between 18 and 32 years old. This policy, contrary to Apple and Foxconn’s equality regulations, has unleashed a wave of criticism and led to an investigation.
This is against Apple policy
India has become a key point for Apple, being its second most important base of iPhone manufacturing and as part of a strategy to reduce its dependence on China. However, this news worries everyone. These job advertisements, distributed by recruitment agencies that work with Foxconn, explicitly excluded women who were married or outside the mentioned age range, something that conflicts with the non-discrimination policies of both Foxconn and Apple.
Although both giants have previously claimed that Foxconn hires married women in India, neither company has come forward to address the rumours.
Following the publication of the report and media pressure, Foxconn withdrew the advertisements and launched standard templates for job offers that recruitment agencies must use from now on, which prohibit both the use of Foxconn in advertisements and the age specification. or marital status of the applicants.
Impact on Apple’s image
This episode once again highlights Apple’s challenges in ensuring ethical standards in its supply chain. Although the company did not directly manage the ads, its link with Foxconn makes it aware of the problem and since it is the main client, it becomes co-responsible in the eyes of the public. The lack of an official response from both Apple and Foxconn regarding these practices has been perceived as an evasive stance, which could harm brand perception in key markets such as India, where it seeks to expand its influence. Silence gives consent?
While the state and federal investigations continue, it remains to be seen if this scandal will bring with it a profound change in Foxconn’s hiring practices or if it will be just a “front” adjustment to mitigate the reputational damage to his company and the damage that Apple may also receive. Californians, for their part, face a new opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to labor rights and equality at all stages of their production.
For now, we can say that the removal of discriminatory ads is a first step forward, but the real challenge lies in ensuring that the principles of equality and respect do not remain just on paper, but rather form an integral part of the work experience. of its workers around the world.
