New Delhi, Amid controversy surrounding Foxconn's hiring practices, Taiwanese trade promotion organization TAITRA said on Monday that there might be some cultural issues but that all foreign companies, including Taiwanese ones operating in India , must adapt to the country's business environment.
His comment came in the backdrop of media reports claiming that Taiwan-based Foxconn, an outsourced manufacturer of Apple iPhones, is allegedly discriminating against married women by not hiring them to work at its unit in Tamil Nadu.
Rejecting the reports, Foxconn reportedly informed the government last month that 25 percent of its new hires are married women and that its safety protocol, which requires all employees to avoid wearing metal regardless of gender or religion, is not discriminatory.
Refusing to be embroiled in a controversy over Foxconn's hiring practices, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) president James CF Huang emphasized that all Taiwanese companies come to India in good faith.
He further stated that Taiwan has persistent regulations that guarantee the rights of employees regardless of their gender.
However, the TAITRA chief said that "there are certain things we have to adjust and work closely with our partners and friends in India and for many Taiwanese companies, it is a different culture, a different way of doing business."
"So there will always be some problems and I think it's not just for Taiwanese companies but (for) all foreign companies coming to India would have to adapt to the Indian business environment."
The TAITRA chief emphasized that the Taiwanese industry is willing to contribute to India's economic development and wants to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India and Digital India policies.
Huang said he is "not familiar with the Foxconn issue," but added at the same time that "in Taiwan we have very persistent laws and regulations to ensure the rights of all employees of all genders. I don't think it will be a problem." .
He informed that bilateral trade between India and Taiwan, which amounted to $8.2 billion in 2023, has been increasing steadily and grew by 28 per cent in the first half of this year (January-June).
"Trade between Taiwan and India is growing very, very fast. Last year, bilateral trade amounted to $8.2 billion, which was an increase of 13 percent compared to 2022 and in the first half of this year is growing even faster, at 28 percent. "Therefore, the prospects for trade between our two countries are very bright," Huang said.
Sharing the outlook for India's semiconductor market, the TAITRA president said the semiconductor market in India is growing "very fast" and one-third of Taiwan's exports to India are chips.
Foxconn, contract manufacturer of Apple's iPhone, has informed the government that 25 percent of its new hires are married women and that its safety protocol, which requires all employees to avoid wearing metal regardless of gender or religion, is not discriminatory, sources said last month.
They added that such media reports defame the fast-growing Indian manufacturing sector.
Last month, the Ministry of Labor and Employment sought a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu labor department on the issue of married women not being allowed to work at Foxconn India's Apple iPhone plant.
According to media reports, the Chennai regional labor commissioner, in his submission to the central labor ministry earlier this month, said there is no evidence to support allegations of discrimination against married women in recruitment processes. and employment at Foxconn's iPhone factory in Chennai. official information on this matter from the Union Ministry of Labor.
The Taiwan Foreign Trade Development Council is a non-profit trade promotion organization co-sponsored by the government of Taiwan.
The TAITRA president spoke here on the sidelines of the Taiwan Expo.
Taiwan Expo in India 2024 features more than 120 companies showcasing more than 1,000 products from Taiwan.
His comment came in the backdrop of media reports claiming that Taiwan-based Foxconn, an outsourced manufacturer of Apple iPhones, is allegedly discriminating against married women by not hiring them to work at its unit in Tamil Nadu.
Rejecting the reports, Foxconn reportedly informed the government last month that 25 percent of its new hires are married women and that its safety protocol, which requires all employees to avoid wearing metal regardless of gender or religion, is not discriminatory.
Refusing to be embroiled in a controversy over Foxconn's hiring practices, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) president James CF Huang emphasized that all Taiwanese companies come to India in good faith.
He further stated that Taiwan has persistent regulations that guarantee the rights of employees regardless of their gender.
However, the TAITRA chief said that "there are certain things we have to adjust and work closely with our partners and friends in India and for many Taiwanese companies, it is a different culture, a different way of doing business."
"So there will always be some problems and I think it's not just for Taiwanese companies but (for) all foreign companies coming to India would have to adapt to the Indian business environment."
The TAITRA chief emphasized that the Taiwanese industry is willing to contribute to India's economic development and wants to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India and Digital India policies.
Huang said he is "not familiar with the Foxconn issue," but added at the same time that "in Taiwan we have very persistent laws and regulations to ensure the rights of all employees of all genders. I don't think it will be a problem." .
He informed that bilateral trade between India and Taiwan, which amounted to $8.2 billion in 2023, has been increasing steadily and grew by 28 per cent in the first half of this year (January-June).
"Trade between Taiwan and India is growing very, very fast. Last year, bilateral trade amounted to $8.2 billion, which was an increase of 13 percent compared to 2022 and in the first half of this year is growing even faster, at 28 percent. "Therefore, the prospects for trade between our two countries are very bright," Huang said.
Sharing the outlook for India's semiconductor market, the TAITRA president said the semiconductor market in India is growing "very fast" and one-third of Taiwan's exports to India are chips.
Foxconn, contract manufacturer of Apple's iPhone, has informed the government that 25 percent of its new hires are married women and that its safety protocol, which requires all employees to avoid wearing metal regardless of gender or religion, is not discriminatory, sources said last month.
They added that such media reports defame the fast-growing Indian manufacturing sector.
Last month, the Ministry of Labor and Employment sought a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu labor department on the issue of married women not being allowed to work at Foxconn India's Apple iPhone plant.
According to media reports, the Chennai regional labor commissioner, in his submission to the central labor ministry earlier this month, said there is no evidence to support allegations of discrimination against married women in recruitment processes. and employment at Foxconn's iPhone factory in Chennai. official information on this matter from the Union Ministry of Labor.
The Taiwan Foreign Trade Development Council is a non-profit trade promotion organization co-sponsored by the government of Taiwan.
The TAITRA president spoke here on the sidelines of the Taiwan Expo.
Taiwan Expo in India 2024 features more than 120 companies showcasing more than 1,000 products from Taiwan.