- Apple will pay $25 million to settle claims that it discriminated against U.S. workers in favor of visa holders when hiring for certain roles.
- The Department of Justice accused Apple of not properly advertising job openings and favoring visa holders already at the company.
- Under the settlement, Apple will pay fines and back pay, change its hiring practices, and report details on its hiring twice a year, but did not admit wrongdoing.
Apple has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations that it discriminated against U.S. workers in favor of visa holders. The settlement resolves claims that Apple’s hiring practices violated provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Background on the Allegations
The U.S. Department of Justice accused Apple of not properly advertising open positions that it wanted to fill through the Permanent Labor Certification Program. This program allows companies to recruit foreign workers to fill roles that they are unable to fill with qualified American applicants.
The DOJ alleged that Apple did not post openings on its external career site and required paper applications, making it difficult for U.S. workers to apply. It claimed these practices unfairly favored visa holders already working at Apple who wanted to transition to permanent roles.
Apple’s Response
While not admitting wrongdoing, Apple agreed to pay $25 million in back pay and penalties. The company said it believes it was following appropriate regulations but that any failures were inadvertent errors rather than intentional discrimination.
Apple stated that it is proud to employ over 90,000 people in the U.S. and will implement a robust plan to comply with government requirements as it continues hiring American workers.
Key Details of the Settlement
Under the settlement, Apple will pay $675,000 in civil penalties and establish an $18.25 million back pay fund. It will also implement new PERM recruitment policies, including posting openings externally and ending paper applications.
Additionally, Apple must report details on its PERM hires and applicants to the DOJ twice a year. The settlement resolves the DOJ’s claims against the company.
Conclusion
The settlement ends the allegations that Apple’s hiring practices discriminated against qualified American applicants in favor of visa holders. Apple did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to pay fines, back pay, and change its recruitment policies. The company says it remains committed to complying with regulations as it hires U.S. workers.
