Foxconn’s ‘mini-township’ takes shape in India; 30,000 new staff with 80% women hired

Foxconn, the leading contract manufacturer for Apple, has made significant strides in expanding its workforce at its new iPhone assembly facility located in Devanahalli, near Bengaluru. In a remarkable achievement, the company has successfully hired nearly 30,000 employees within a mere nine months, marking the swiftest factory scale-up in India's history. Spanning 300 acres, this facility plays a crucial role in Apple’s strategy to shift its manufacturing operations away from China. A standout feature of this site is its diverse workforce, with around 80% of employees being women, primarily aged between 19 and 24, many of whom are stepping into the formal job market for the first time. Since launching trial production earlier this spring, the plant has rapidly progressed from assembling the iPhone 16 to producing the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max models. The scale of production is extensive, with over 80% of the factory's output earmarked for international markets. In a move to support its substantial workforce, Foxconn is developing the site into a self-sufficient mini-township. Currently, the campus includes six large dormitories for employees, with future plans for medical facilities, schools, and recreational areas. Workers at the Devanahalli plant benefit from free accommodation and subsidized meals, with an average monthly salary of around ₹18,000, making these roles some of the best-paying blue-collar jobs for women in the region. Foxconn, officially known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, is pouring approximately ₹20,000 crore into this project. Analysts predict that the workforce could expand to 50,000 by next year as more assembly lines begin operations. Once completed, the Bengaluru facility is set to surpass Foxconn’s existing plant in Tamil Nadu, positioning it as the largest electronics manufacturing hub in India and a global model for women-centric industrial initiatives.