Apple To Pay $25 Million To Settle Hiring Discrimination Claims

Apple has agreed to pay up to $25 million to resolve claims of hiring discrimination. The Department of Justice announced on Thursday that $18.25 million will be used to establish a backpay fund for affected victims, with the remaining $6.75 million going towards civil penalties.

The Department of Justice determined that Apple violated the Immigration and Nationality Act when it hired foreign workers through the permanent labour certification programme (PERM), which allows companies to hire foreign workers permanently in the United States. According to the DOJ, Apple did not advertise job openings on its website when recruiting for this programme, "despite its standard practise of posting other job positions on this website."

In addition to the up to $25 million fine, the DOJ requires Apple to "conduct more expansive recruitment for all PERM positions" by posting PERM positions on its job website and accepting applications digitally. According to the DOJ, Apple has already addressed some of these concerns.