NHRC Takes Suo Motu Notice of Alleged Hiring Discrimination at Foxconn

NHRC has issued notices to central labor ministry and state government

The Commission has requested a detailed report on the case by 7 July.

The NHRC took the content of media reports, published on June 26, as a basis for taking this action.

Taking suo motu cognizance of Foxconn's alleged discrimination in excluding married women from jobs at its Tamil Nadu plant, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the central labour ministry and the state government, seeking a detailed report in the case.

“The NHRC finds that this case, if proven, raises a serious issue of discrimination against married women, resulting in violation of the right to equality and equal opportunity,” the commission said in a statement.

“Suo motu cognizance” allows a government entity to take notice of a matter without receiving a formal petition or complaint.

The NHRC took this action based on the content of information published in the media on June 26.

Finding that the reported incidents constitute a serious lacuna in the observance of the right to equality and equal opportunities, the commission has issued notices to the Secretary, Ministry of Labor and the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, demanding a detailed report on the matter by July 7.

At the heart of the matter is a Reuters report that claims Apple's Indian supplier was exclude married women from jobs in his factory on the grounds that they have more family responsibilities than their single counterparts.

However, the Taiwanese electronics maker refuted allegations of discriminatory hiring practices, which the commission also took note of.

On June 26,The labor ministry has also written to the state governmentrequesting a detailed report on the matter. The department said the allegations, if true, would constitute a clear breach of Section 5 of the Equal Pay Act 1976. This provision states that there is no discrimination in recruitment on the grounds of sex.

The affair has gained momentum since the publication of the report, even reaching Parliament. On June 29, Reuters reported that the Indian National Congress had also urged the central government to question Foxconn over its recruitment practices. Member of Parliament (MP) Karti P Chidambaram has written a letter to Labor Minister DR Mansukh Mandaviya, urging the ministry to take stern action against the Apple supplier.

“While foreign investment is crucial, it must not come at the expense of our cultural values,” he wrote in his letter. which was posted on X, read.