Foxconn to boost women’s role in India’s design and tech leadership

Foxconn's women empowerment: Foxconn, the iPhone manufacturer, is pushing for greater representation of women in leadership roles within its design and technology sectors in India. 

According to Chairperson Young Liu, the company is planning to offer advanced positions to its female workforce, moving beyond traditional assembly roles.

With a workforce of 48,000 employees across India, Foxconn's recent hiring trends show inclusion of women, with 25 per cent of new recruits being married women. Women make up 70 per cent of its factory workforce.

Liu said that many of their current employees are highly educated and deserve opportunities to advance into more challenging roles. "We envision roles for women not just in assembly but in design and technology positions as well," Liu told PTI.

Women-only housing

Notably, Foxconn recently opened a women-only residential complex in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai. Built by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), this complex can accommodate over 18,000 women employees.

Foxconn's growth in India is not limited to Tamil Nadu. The company is setting up its second-largest mobile manufacturing plant outside China in Karnataka, with an investment of Rs 25,000 crore. 

This project is expected to create 40,000 jobs. The company recently injected Rs 1,200 crore into its Karnataka unit, raising its total investment in the state to approximately Rs 13,800 crore.

In addition to its expansion plans, Foxconn is in discussions with the Tamil Nadu government to establish a battery energy storage system unit, with a focus on electric vehicles. The company is also working in the semiconductor industry and plans to commence electric vehicle production in India soon.

Foxconn's plan aligns with its broader "3+3 strategy," which aims to expand into three critical industries: electric vehicles, digital health, and robotics. Liu highlighted that their information and communication technology segment has just begun in India.

(With PTI Inputs)