Apple Agrees To $25 Mn Settlement In US Hiring Discrimination Case
Apple has agreed to pay USD 25 million to settle allegations by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that the company engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. The DOJ contends that Apple unlawfully favoured immigrant workers over US citizens and green card holders for specific positions.
According to the Justice Department's statement, Apple neglected to recruit US citizens or permanent residents for jobs eligible for a federal program that permits employers to sponsor immigrant workers for green cards. This purported violation of federal law, which prohibits discrimination based on citizenship, prompted the significant settlement.
In response, Apple issued a statement acknowledging that it had "unintentionally not been following the DOJ standard." The company stressed on its commitment to compliance, revealing the implementation of a robust remediation plan to adhere to the requirements of various government agencies while continuing to expand its workforce within the US.
The DOJ's investigation found that Apple failed to advertise job openings eligible for the federal program, known as the permanent labour certification or PERM program, on its website, a practice routinely observed for other positions. Additionally, the company reportedly insisted on paper applications for these jobs, in contrast to its usual acceptance of electronic applications, resulting in less effective recruitment procedures.
As part of the settlement terms, Apple is mandated to pay USD 6.75 million in civil penalties and allocate USD 18.25 million to an unspecified number of affected workers. Beyond the financial repercussions, the tech giant has committed to aligning its recruiting practices for PERM jobs with its standard procedures. This includes conducting more expansive recruitment efforts and providing anti-discrimination training for its employees.
