SRIPERUMBUDUR, India, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Foxconn's

chairman on Saturday defended its hiring practices after New

Delhi ordered investigations following a Reuters report that the

Apple ( AAPL ) supplier rejects married women from iPhone assembly jobs.

"Foxconn hires regardless of gender, but women make up a big

part of our workforce here," Young Liu said during the opening

ceremony for a hostel complex for its workers near Chennai in

the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

"I emphasise married women greatly contribute to the efforts

of what we're doing here," he added, making his first comments

since the Reuters investigation.

Liu did not take questions from media at the hostel complex

that the state government says is "exclusive" to 18,720 Foxconn

women workers. The multi-storey hostel buildings are located

close to the iPhone-making plant.

The Reuters investigation published in June found that

Foxconn systematically excluded married women from jobs at its

main India iPhone assembly plant on the grounds they have more

family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts.

Foxconn acknowledged some lapses in hiring practices in 2022

and said it had worked to address the issues, but added that it

"vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination."

The story triggered TV debates and newspaper editorials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's federal government ordered Tamil

Nadu to provide a "detailed report" on it, and his labour

officials also visited the iPhone factory to question

executives. New Delhi has not yet released any findings.

Foxconn told labour officials its main India iPhone factory

employs 41,281 people, including 33,360 women. Of these women

some 2,750, or about 8%, were married.

It did not break down the staffing figures into specific

areas such as iPhone assembly, where Reuters reported the

discrimination was taking place.

Foxconn in recent years has expanded in India, where it

makes iPhones and products for other smartphone brands, and has

plans to move into AirPods and chipmaking.

Liu has met Modi and many top Indian officials during his

ongoing visit, and discussed Foxconn's investment plans.