Foxconn Revamps Job Advertising After Reuters Exposé Reveals Age and Marital Bias

In an effort to distance itself from criticism over its hiring practices, Foxconn, Apple's major supplier, has ordered agents who help recruit iPhone assembly workers in India to remove age, gender, and marital criteria from job advertisements.

According to three people familiar with the matter and dozy ads reviewed by Reuters, these changes come after a June investigation revealed that Foxconn excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone assembly plant, despite later relaxing the practice during high-production periods.

The move follows weeks of intense scrutiny after Reuters found that job ads posted by Foxconn's Indian hiring vendors between January 2023 and May 2024 stated that only unmarried women of a specified age were eligible for smartphone assembly roles, contravening Apple and Foxconn anti-discrimination policies.

Foxconn HR executives instructed many of the Indian vendors to standardize recruitment materials in accordance with templates provided by the company. They also warned not to use Foxconn's name in ads going forward, threatening to terminate their contracts if they did so, one agent revealed.

"The instructions for ads were: Don't mention the unmarried requirement, don't mention age, nor male or female either," said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of backlash from Foxconn.

Reuters could not independently verify whether these actions represent a significant shift in Foxconn's hiring practices. However, recent changes to advertising content align with the recruiters' accounts.

One new template ad recently reviewed by Reuters described smartphone assembly positions but made no mention of Foxconn, age, gender, or marital criteria. The ad listed benefits including an air-conditioned workplace, free transport, and a monthly salary of 14,974 rupees (approximately $177).

Foxconn has employed thousands of women at the Sriperumbudur factory near Chennai for smartphone assembly work.

The reforms come amid heightened competition in India's manufacturing sector amid Apple posing it as an alternative base to China. The Tamil Nadu state government also launched investigations into hiring practices after Reuters told earlier story about Foxconn excluding married women from its main assembly plant.

"We need changes now," said Dilip Cherian, a communications consultant.