Apple and US government reach $25 million settlement over job bias allegations

New York (Uttam Hindu News): Apple Inc. has reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to clean up its image over allegations of illegally discriminating against certain non-US citizens in recruitment and hiring.

According to the $25 million settlement, Apple must pay $6.75 million in civil penalties and establish an $18.25 million back pay fund for eligible discrimination victims.

The DOJ announced Thursday that it is the largest award recovered under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

“Creating unlawful barriers that make it more difficult for someone to find a job because of their citizenship status will not be tolerated,” said Kristen Clark, Assistant Attorney General for the department’s Civil Rights Division.

“This resolution reflects the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to ending illegal discriminatory employment regulations,” Clark said.

The Settlement Agreement resolves the Department’s determination that Apple violated INA’s anti-discrimination requirements during Apple’s recruitment under the Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM).

The PERM program is administered by the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security.

It allows employers to sponsor workers for lawful permanent resident status in the US after completing recruitment and meeting other program requirements.

Any US employer that uses the PERM program cannot unlawfully discriminate in hiring or recruitment based on citizenship or immigration status.

The Department’s investigation, begun in February 2019, found that Apple engaged in a pattern or practice of citizenship status discrimination in hiring for positions appointed through PERM.

It also found that the company’s unlawful discrimination disproportionately impacted U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and people granted asylum or refugee status.

In some instances, Apple did not consider certain applications from employees for PERM positions. Those applications were submitted electronically as opposed to paper applications submitted by mail.

The agreement also requires Apple to ensure that its recruitment for PERM positions matches its standard recruiting practices.

Specifically, Apple would be required to conduct more extensive recruiting for all PERM positions, including posting PERM positions on its external jobs website, accepting electronic applications, and making applicants for PERM positions searchable in its applicant tracking system. Making is included.

Apple has implemented some of these measures after the department launched an investigation.

In addition, Apple will train its employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements and will be subject to departmental monitoring for the three-year term of the agreement.