Apple has been busy creating jobs, with 150,000 direct jobs generated in the past two and a half years. Now, they’re shifting focus to providing housing for their factory workers in India. Taking cues from China and Vietnam, where industrial housing models are common, Apple aims to ensure residential accommodations for its employees.
According to The Economic Times (ET), government officials revealed that Apple’s contract manufacturers and suppliers, including big names like Foxconn, Tata, and Salcomp, are currently working on developing housing for their workforce. This initiative involves a public-private partnership, marking it as the largest private-sector effort of its kind.
Apple’s Worker Housing Initiative in India
In India, Apple is teaming up with organizations like the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), the Tata Group, and SPR India to build housing units for its factory workers. The goal is to provide decent living spaces for employees, especially focusing on migrant women between 19 and 24. The plan is to build more than 78,000 homes, with Tamil Nadu getting the most at 58,000 units.
Funding for this project comes from various sources. The central government is expected to contribute 10-15%, while state governments and entrepreneurs will cover the rest. Construction is underway, and the homes are intended to be handed over to the private sector by March 31, 2025. This initiative aims to boost efficiency and ensure the safety and well-being of Apple’s workforce.
Innovative Employee Housing Project for Women Workers by Apple
Apple is pioneering a groundbreaking employee housing project designed for women employees in India. This initiative, a first of its kind in the country, aims to address the challenges faced by workers residing in rented accommodations and enduring long bus commutes to reach the factories.
Recognizing the importance of proximity to factories for efficiency and security, officials emphasise the need for comfortable housing near the workplace. With a significant portion of the electronics industry workforce being women, ensuring their safety and well-being is a top priority.
The government, acknowledging the sensitivity of the electronics industry to location and transportation, aims to provide quality housing to workers, many of whom come from different parts of the country. S. Krishnan, the secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) highlighted the positive impact of such housing on productivity, working conditions, and the overall welfare of the workers.
Apple’s Expansion in India
In India, Apple’s biggest iPhone supplier, Foxconn, based in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, plans to use around 35,000 housing units for its 41,000 employees, 75% of whom are women. Tata Electronics is constructing 11,500 units for its Hosur facility, focusing on making iPhone enclosures for domestic and export markets. Salcomp, another Apple manufacturer, will use 3,969 units for its employees who produce power adaptors and other components.
Apple has ramped up its presence in India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market, amidst global tensions. It began manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017 and expanded production under a government incentive scheme that started in August 2021. This move aligns with Apple’s strategy to increase local production with the help of suppliers like Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron.
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