BENGALURU, June 26 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi's government on Wednesday said it has asked the

Tamil Nadu state to submit a "detailed report" after a Reuters

story revealed that Apple ( AAPL ) supplier Foxconn rejected married

women from iPhone assembly jobs in the country.

In a statement calling for the probe, the federal

government's Ministry of Labour and Employment cited the Equal

Remuneration Act of 1976, saying the law "clearly stipulates

that no discrimination (is) to be made while recruiting men and

women workers."

The ministry said it has requested a detailed report from

the Labour Department of Tamil Nadu, site of a major iPhone

factory where Reuters uncovered Foxconn's practice of shunning

married women from jobs. The Labour Ministry said it also

directed the office of the Regional Chief Labour Commissioner to

provide a "factual report."

Apple ( AAPL ) and Foxconn did not immediately

respond to a request for comment on the government statement.

The Tamil Nadu state government did not immediately respond to

Reuters' request for comment outside office hours.

A Reuters investigation published on Tuesday found that

Foxconn has systematically excluded married women from jobs at

its main India iPhone plant near Chennai in Tamil Nadu state, on

the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their

unmarried counterparts.

Foxconn hiring agents and HR sources interviewed by Reuters

cited family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons

why Foxconn did not hire married women at the plant.

The Ministry of Labour "takes note of media reports on

married women not being allowed to work at Foxconn India Apple

iPhone plant," the statement said.

Earlier, in response to questions from Reuters for its

Tuesday report, 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 Sriperumbudur plant, however, took place in 2023 and

2024. The two companies didn't address the 2023 and 2024

incidents.

Apple ( AAPL ) said that "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," adding that all its

suppliers, including Foxconn, hire married women.

Foxconn said it "vigorously refutes allegations of

employment discrimination based on marital status, gender,

religion or any other form."

Lawyers told Reuters Indian law doesn't bar companies from

discriminating in hiring based on marital status. Apple's ( AAPL ) and

Foxconn's policies, however, prohibit such hiring practices in

their supply chains.

(For full story on Reuters.com, please click https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/foxconn-apple-india-women/)

(Editing by Mike Williams)