Apple has announced a rather groundbreaking initiative that will be a major boost for its factory workers, especially women.
In a bit to improve the well-being of its factory employees in India Apple will be developing housing units for them. This move is yet another example of the kind of perks Apple’s employees enjoy, both on the corporate side, as well in factory conditions.
Apple’s commitment to bolstering the welfare of its workforce has been a pivotal aspect of its operations in the country.
Over the past two and a half years, Apple has been instrumental in creating blue-collared jobs in India, contributing to the generation of over 150,000 jobs directly.
Now for Apple, the focus has shifted towards providing improved living arrangements for these employees, to ensure efficiency, security, and overall welfare.
As per a report by The Economic Times, Apple’s housing initiative in India is similar to what it does in countries like China and Vietnam, where it has a very deep and widely spread logistics network.
In India, Apple will be constructing more than 78,000 housing units under a public-private partnership scheme. This will be the largest private sector initiative of its kind, claims the report.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTamil Nadu is home to the largest iPhone manufacturing plant in the country, owned by Foxconn. Additionally, the state also has several other locations where Apple or some of its suppliers have set up shop. Naturally, the state will also get the most number of housing units. The report by ET suggests that Tamil Nadu may get about 58,000 units.
Several key stakeholders are involved in this project, including the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), Tata Group, and SPR India. These entities are investing both capital and effort to ensure the timely completion of the project.
Support from the central government, state governments, and private investors will also prove to be integral. Apple hopes that the housing units will be completed by March 31, 2025.
Apple’s new housing project is primarily targeted towards women factory workers, many of whom are between the ages of 19 and 24 and have to live far away from their families. Most of these women live in rented accommodations which are far from the city centre as well as the factories.
These housing units should help them with long distances from their rented accommodations to their workplaces. Additionally, other companies collaborating with Apple, such as Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Salcomp, will also utilize these housing facilities for their employees.
This initiative forms part of Apple’s broader strategy to diversify its manufacturing operations across various regions, mitigating risks associated with over-reliance on a single country. By prioritizing the well-being of its workforce and providing them with quality living spaces.
(With inputs from agencies)