Cupertino, Calif. — Apple has reached an agreement to pay $25 million in order to settle allegations surrounding its discriminatory hiring practices between 2018 and 2019.
The settlement, which was announced on Thursday, puts an end to a lengthy investigation conducted by the Department of Justice into potential violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Following an inquiry initiated in 2019, federal regulators found that Apple's hiring practices displayed bias against U.S. candidates, as certain job positions were awarded to immigrant workers seeking permanent residency in the country. Additionally, the settlement revealed instances where Apple discriminated against non-U.S. residents.
Despite these findings, Apple AAPL, -0.26% firmly denied any wrongdoing. In a statement to The Associated Press, the Cupertino-based company highlighted its proud employment of over 90,000 individuals within the United States, while emphasizing its commitment to creating numerous job opportunities nationwide. Apple further explained that the agreement was reached as a resolution to address the concerns raised by the Department of Justice.
Considering Apple's significant revenue of $383 billion during its previous fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, the $25 million settlement amount appears relatively small. The majority of the funds, $18.25 million, will be allocated to a compensation fund assisting the victims affected by Apple's alleged discriminatory practices. The remaining amount will cover the fine associated with Apple's hiring practices during the specified timeframe outlined in the settlement.
