Electronics Sector in India Creating Blue-Collar Jobs for Women: Minister

The Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted the significant creation of blue-collar jobs for women in the electronics sector in India. He mentioned the case of Foxconn, a Taiwan-based company, which has employed nearly 30,000 workers, with almost 80% being women, at its new iPhone assembly facility in Bengaluru within a short span of eight to nine months.
Vaishnaw, in a social media post, expressed that a women-led mega factory would have been unthinkable a decade ago. He emphasized that the electronics sector is playing a crucial role in generating large-scale, skilled, blue-collar jobs, particularly for women, showcasing technology transfer, women empowerment, and enhancing the quality of life.
At Foxconn’s new iPhone assembly plant in Devanahalli, a significant number of women, primarily aged between 19-24 and new to the formal workforce, have been recruited. The workforce is expected to grow to around 50,000 employees by the following year. The facility commenced trial production earlier this year with the iPhone 16 and is currently producing the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max models, with more than 80% of the output aimed at international markets.
The Taiwanese manufacturing giant is investing approximately Rs 20,000 crore in this project, with the production area covering nearly 250,000 square feet. This facility is set to become Foxconn’s largest manufacturing unit in India in terms of both production capacity and job opportunities, surpassing its existing iPhone manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu, which employs about 41,000 individuals.
Foxconn’s expansion plans in India also include an investment of Rs 15,000 crore in Tamil Nadu, leading to the creation of 14,000 high-value jobs. The company currently operates in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana, signaling a significant expansion of its presence in the country.