Foxconn Chairman Young Liu stressed on Saturday that the company hires employees regardless of gender, but in India women, especially married women, have made a major contribution to its efforts.

The chairman of the Taiwan-based iPhone contract manufacturer spoke at the opening ceremony of his women-only residential complex.

The Foxconn chairman said that the Taiwanese electronics company is seeing an upward trend in hiring all types of employees in India.

“Foxconn hires regardless of gender, but women make up a large part of our workforce here. I want to emphasize that married women make a great contribution to what we do here,” Liu said.

The Taiwanese company was recently accused of discrimination in hiring married women. A report said the electronics giant was reluctant to hire married women in India.

Foxconn had rejected the report and said that 25 percent of the newly hired employees were married women.

The company had stated at the time that the Foxconn factory employed about 70 percent women and 30 percent men and that the Tamil Nadu plant was the factory with the highest employment rate for women in the country.

Liu said the women’s housing complex offers peace of mind and a shorter commute to workers who live away from home.

“This residential complex is now an important part of Foxconn in Tamil Nadu. It is in line with our commitment to sustainability in India. For example, we are achieving zero waste landfill certification across Asia, America and Europe. We are also putting liquid waste prevention technologies, energy-saving appliances and rainwater harvesting into practice in India,” he said.

The Foxconn chairman said sustainability is not just about cleaner and greener infrastructure, but also about the growth of a community.

“Opportunities for women in India go hand in hand with their health and safety at work. A sustainable living environment helps them succeed,” said Liu.

Built by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) and inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, the complex will house and share rooms with over 18,000 women employees of Foxconn.

The project is spread over an area of ​​20 acres and the total cost of construction was around Rs 706 crore.

First published: August 17, 2024 | 9:24 p.m. IS