With Rs 706 crore facility that can house 18,720 women, Foxconn doubles down in Tamil Nadu
Married women play significant role in company’s production facilities, says chairman Young Liu
3 min read
The residential complex, now the largest of its kind for workers in India, according to the Tamil Nadu government, was developed by the state for Foxconn female workers following protests in 2021 at the company’s Sriperumbudur plant over “poor” living conditions.Foxconn chairman Young Liu said on Saturday that married women play a significant role in his company’s production facilities, during the opening of a Rs 706-crore residential complex for female workers at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, on Saturday. This comes weeks after reports claimed Foxconn, a key supplier for Apple, was denying jobs to married women in India.
Inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, the residential facility, spread over 20 acres, includes 13 blocks with 10 floors each, offering dormitory-style rooms designed to house up to 18,720 workers.
Liu used the occasion to stress that the new facility will house thousands of women, and added that “married women significantly contribute to Foxconn’s production units in the state”. He noted that many of the women workers come from small towns and will live in a dormitory setting, similar to those in Taiwan. The complex, he added, showcases sustainability through zero-discharge technology.
The residential complex, now the largest of its kind for workers in India, according to the Tamil Nadu government, was developed by the state for Foxconn female workers following protests in 2021 at the company’s Sriperumbudur plant over “poor” living conditions. The protests led to the temporary closure of the plant and spurred Foxconn to collaborate with the Tamil Nadu government to improve accommodations.
Stalin said Foxconn employs 41,000 workers in the state, of which 35,000 are women. “Here in Tamil Nadu, it’s not just about women being equal to men; in many sectors, women are leading, especially in industrial and cutting-edge production,” he said. The CM highlighted that Tamil Nadu leads India in women’s workforce participation at 41 per cent.
A top official of the state industries ministry said Foxconn’s largest workforce outside China is India now, and the largest number is in Tamil Nadu.
Upon arriving in Chennai International Airport on Saturday evening, Liu was warmly welcomed and driven to Sriperumbudur by the state industries minister, T R B Rajaa, himself.
The project, executed by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), also includes a large dining hall with seating capacity for 4,000 people, indoor games facilities, outdoor play areas, and courts for various sports, promoting a healthy lifestyle for the workers. Environmental sustainability has been addressed with solar and rainwater harvesting systems, a sewage treatment plant, and a solid waste management system. Security is also a priority, with 1,170 CCTV cameras installed throughout the premises.
As Foxconn expands its operations in India to include assembling Google’s Pixel phones and manufacturing drones, the new housing complex is aimed at ensuring a comfortable living environment for the expected influx of workers.
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