National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of reported discrimination by Foxconn, a major manufacturer of Apple devices, in excluding married women from job at its assembly plant at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. It issued notices to the Secretary, Labour Ministry and the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu government seeking a detailed report within one week. NHRC observed 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.

The Commission has noted the fact that gender equality is not only required in the Indian Constitution but International Covenant Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights also provide non-discrimination on the ground of gender in any form of employment. NHRC maintained that it is the obligation of the state authorities to ensure that all companies follow the norms and regulations relating to labour laws and the right to health and dignity to any individual, including women, who are working in the supply chain of any production unit of the private sector.