By Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI, July 1 (Reuters) - India's human rights

watchdog said on Monday it had asked government officials to

examine reported discrimination by Foxconn, after a Reuters

investigation found the major Apple ( AAPL ) supplier has been rejecting

married women from iPhone assembly jobs in the country.

In a statement, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

said it had issued notices to the secretary of Prime Minister

Narendra Modi's labour ministry and the chief secretary of the

state government of Tamil Nadu, site of a major iPhone factory,

calling for a detailed report within a week.

"NHRC observes that the matter, if true, raises a serious

issue of discrimination against married women causing the

violation of the right to equality and equal opportunity," it

said.

The Reuters story has sparked debates on TV channels,

newspaper editorials, calls from women groups, including within

Modi's party as well as opposition parties to investigate the

matter. Modi's federal government has also asked Tamil Nadu

state for a "detailed report".

Modi's labour ministry, Apple ( AAPL ) and Taiwan-based

Foxconn did not immediately respond to requests for

comment. A Tamil Nadu government spokesman referred questions to

its labour department, which did not respond.

The Reuters investigation found Foxconn systematically

excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone plant

on the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their

unmarried counterparts. Foxconn hiring agents and HR sources

cited family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons

for not hiring married women.

Responding to the investigation, published last week, Apple ( AAPL )

and Foxconn acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and

said they had worked to address the issues. All the

discriminatory practices documented by Reuters at the Tamil Nadu

plant, however, took place in 2023 and 2024. The companies

didn't address those instances.

Foxconn has said it "vigorously refutes allegations of

employment discrimination based on marital status, gender,

religion or any other form."

Apple ( AAPL ) has said all its suppliers, including Foxconn, hire

married women and "when concerns about hiring practices were

first raised in 2022 we immediately took action and worked with

our supplier to conduct monthly audits to identify issues and

ensure that our high standards are upheld."

Indian law does not bar companies from discriminating in

hiring based on marital status, though Apple's ( AAPL ) and Foxconn's

policies prohibit such practices in their supply chains.

The NHRC said it "noted the fact that gender equality is not

only required in the Indian constitution but the international

treaty and covenants."

State authorities must ensure that all companies follow the

norms and regulations relating to labour laws, it added.