Tech giant Apple has banned caste-based discrimination in the company while issuing a code of conduct for employees in the United States.

The company said it had updated its general employee conduct policy two years ago to prohibit discrimination on the basis of caste along with other categories, including gender, age, religion, race and ancestry.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/mismanagement-of-decentralized-institutions-in-india-501446">Also Read:&nbsp;Is caste hegemony undoing the Gram Swaraj model?</a>

The company has also been training its staff on the issue as it streamlines its processes. Apple claimed it&nbsp;“updated language a couple of years ago to reinforce” and prohibit&nbsp;“discrimination or harassment based on caste.”&nbsp;Indians account for Apple's top foreign workers.

IBM has also included the caste&nbsp;issue in its global discrimination rules. The company reportedly trains managers in India on issues that mention caste.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Is caste hegemony undoing the Gram Swaraj model?

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Two years ago, California's employment regulator had sued Cisco on behalf of an engineer who reportedly accused two higher caste bosses of blocking his career. Cisco conducted an investigation and rejected the allegation while adding that&nbsp;caste is not a legally "protected class" in California. However, an appeals panel has dismissed Cisco's bid to move the case to private arbitration.

Several activists in the US have also called for updated legislation on discrimination to include deterring casteism. Apple said it has a "diverse" global team and its policies and actions reflect new changes. Apple's hiring policy now states that the company "does not discriminate in recruiting, training, hiring, or promoting on the basis of "race, colour, ancestry, national origin, caste, religion, creed, age" including disability, sexual orientation and gender. The policy has eighteen categories.

Reports claimed Google employees have sent a petition to CEO Sundar Pichai to include casteism&nbsp;in the code of conduct rules in the worldwide list.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Tech giant Apple has banned caste-based discrimination in the company while issuing a code of conduct for employees in the United States. The company said it had updated its general employee conduct policy two years ago to prohibit discrimination on the basis of caste along with other categories, including gender, age, religion, race and ancestry.

Tech giant Apple has banned caste-based discrimination in the company while issuing a code of conduct for employees in the United States. The company said it had updated its general employee conduct policy two years ago to prohibit discrimination on the basis of caste along with other categories, including gender, age, religion, race and ancestry. Also Read: Is caste hegemony undoing the Gram Swaraj model? The company has also been training its staff on the issue as it streamlines its processes. Apple claimed it “updated language a couple of years ago to reinforce” and prohibit “discrimination or harassment based on caste.” Indians account for Apple's top foreign workers. IBM has also included the caste issue in its global discrimination rules. The company reportedly trains managers in India on issues that mention caste. Watch: Is caste hegemony undoing the Gram Swaraj model? Two years ago, California's employment regulator had sued Cisco on behalf of an engineer who reportedly accused two higher caste bosses of blocking his career. Cisco conducted an investigation and rejected the allegation while adding that caste is not a legally "protected class" in California. However, an appeals panel has dismissed Cisco's bid to move the case to private arbitration. Several activists in the US have also called for updated legislation on discrimination to include deterring casteism. Apple said it has a "diverse" global team and its policies and actions reflect new changes. Apple's hiring policy now states that the company "does not discriminate in recruiting, training, hiring, or promoting on the basis of "race, colour, ancestry, national origin, caste, religion, creed, age" including disability, sexual orientation and gender. The policy has eighteen categories. Reports claimed Google employees have sent a petition to CEO Sundar Pichai to include casteism in the code of conduct rules in the worldwide list. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Tech giant Apple bans caste-based discrimination in code of conduct policy

California regulators sued Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) on Tuesday, accusing it of discriminating against an Indian-American employee and allowing him to be harassed by two managers because he was from a lower Indian caste than them.

US employment law does not specifically bar caste-based discrimination, but California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing contends in the lawsuit that the Hindu faith’s lingering caste system is based on protected classes such as religion.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepalese-govt-forms-high-level-committee-to-investigate-dalit-killings-over-arranged-marriage-dispute-305934">Also read:&nbsp;Nepalese govt forms high-level committee to investigate Dalit killings over arranged marriage dispute</a>

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Jose, does not name the alleged victim. It states he has been a principal engineer at Cisco’s San Jose headquarters since October 2015 and that he was born at the bottom of caste hierarchy as a Dalit, once called “untouchables.”

Like other large Silicon Valley employers, Cisco’s workforce includes thousands of Indian immigrants, most of whom were born Brahmins or other high castes.

Former Cisco engineering managers Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella also are defendants in the lawsuit, which accuses them of harassment for internally enforcing the caste hierarchy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yuvraj-singh-issues-statement-after-alleged-casteist-remark-on-yuvzendra-chahal-303644">Also read:&nbsp;Yuvraj Singh issues statement after alleged casteist remark on Yuvzendra Chahal</a>

\Cisco spokeswoman Robyn Blum said the network gear maker followed its process to investigate employee concerns in this case and would “vigorously defend itself” against the lawsuit.

“Cisco is committed to an inclusive workplace for all,” she said. “We were fully in compliance with all laws as well as our own policies.”

Iyer and Kompella did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately known if the two have retained attorneys.

The civil rights group Equality Labs in a 2018 report cited in the lawsuit found that 67% of Dalits surveyed felt treated unfairly at their US workplaces.

At Cisco, the unnamed employee reported Iyer to human resources in November 2016 for outing him as a Dalit to colleagues. Iyer allegedly retaliated, but Cisco determined caste discrimination was not illegal and issues continued through 2018, the lawsuit states.

Cisco reassigned and isolated the employee, rejected a raise and opportunities that would have led to one and denied two promotions, according to the lawsuit.

Hindus traditionally grouped people into four major castes based on ancestry, and Dalits in India still struggle with access to education and jobs 65 years after India banned caste-based discrimination.

California regulators sued Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) on Tuesday, accusing it of discriminating against an Indian-American employee and allowing him to be harassed by two managers because he was from a lower Indian caste than them.

California regulators sued Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) on Tuesday, accusing it of discriminating against an Indian-American employee and allowing him to be harassed by two managers because he was from a lower Indian caste than them. US employment law does not specifically bar caste-based discrimination, but California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing contends in the lawsuit that the Hindu faith’s lingering caste system is based on protected classes such as religion. Also read: Nepalese govt forms high-level committee to investigate Dalit killings over arranged marriage dispute The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Jose, does not name the alleged victim. It states he has been a principal engineer at Cisco’s San Jose headquarters since October 2015 and that he was born at the bottom of caste hierarchy as a Dalit, once called “untouchables.” Like other large Silicon Valley employers, Cisco’s workforce includes thousands of Indian immigrants, most of whom were born Brahmins or other high castes. Former Cisco engineering managers Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella also are defendants in the lawsuit, which accuses them of harassment for internally enforcing the caste hierarchy. Also read: Yuvraj Singh issues statement after alleged casteist remark on Yuvzendra Chahal \Cisco spokeswoman Robyn Blum said the network gear maker followed its process to investigate employee concerns in this case and would “vigorously defend itself” against the lawsuit. “Cisco is committed to an inclusive workplace for all,” she said. “We were fully in compliance with all laws as well as our own policies.” Iyer and Kompella did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately known if the two have retained attorneys. The civil rights group Equality Labs in a 2018 report cited in the lawsuit found that 67% of Dalits surveyed felt treated unfairly at their US workplaces. At Cisco, the unnamed employee reported Iyer to human resources in November 2016 for outing him as a Dalit to colleagues. Iyer allegedly retaliated, but Cisco determined caste discrimination was not illegal and issues continued through 2018, the lawsuit states. Cisco reassigned and isolated the employee, rejected a raise and opportunities that would have led to one and denied two promotions, according to the lawsuit. Hindus traditionally grouped people into four major castes based on ancestry, and Dalits in India still struggle with access to education and jobs 65 years after India banned caste-based discrimination.

California accuses Cisco of job discrimination based on Indian employee's caste

Long being subjected to discrimination, Dalits, members of a community branded &#39;lower castes&#39;, are barred from taking haircuts in public salons in Muzaffarnagar district of India&#39;s northern state&nbsp;Uttar Pradesh . 
 
The norms that have been held as a tradition and followed by generations in Bhoopkheri village, is now facing resistance, especially from the young Dalits. 
 
Eyeing a change, dozens of Dalits held a meeting on Sunday, June 26 and demanded that the bizarre decree be scrapped. 
 
The Dalits have spent their lives in the shadow of discriminatory norms set by the members of the upper caste. They are not allowed to use water from wells meant for the upper caste, sit on cots and have to keep footwear on heads before entering houses of the upper class. 
 
&quot;It has been in force from a very long time in the village. We have been seeing this since childhood. Our hair and our ancestors&#39; hair are never cut by barbers of upper communities. We have tried to go to the salons a few times, but they give us excuses. They say that heads of their communities have stopped them from cutting our hair or they don&#39;t have time&quot;, said a local, Harish Kumar, adding, &quot;Either we cut our hair at home&hellip;if there is an emergency, we get our haircut at home itself.&quot; 
 
District Magistrate, Muzaffarnagar, Dinesh Kumar Singh said such acts need to condemned. 
 
&quot;As you (mediaperson) said, I will bring it to the notice of the authorities. And, if any such decree of not working (cutting hairs) for the lower caste people are issued, it should be condemned. We will not let this happen. We will investigate into the matter and take requisite action,&quot; said Singh. 
 
Numbering 160 million, Dalits represent 16 per cent of India&#39;s population of more than one billion. 
 
Caste discrimination is banned in India and special quotas exist for Dalits in Parliament, state legislatures, village councils, government jobs and educational institutions. 
 
(Reuters)

Dalits have been facing discrimination for generations based on norms that have been held as tradition, but youngsters are now defying them

Long being subjected to discrimination, Dalits, members of a community branded 'lower castes', are barred from taking haircuts in public salons in Muzaffarnagar district of India's northern state Uttar Pradesh . The norms that have been held as a tradition and followed by generations in Bhoopkheri village, is now facing resistance, especially from the young Dalits. Eyeing a change, dozens of Dalits held a meeting on Sunday, June 26 and demanded that the bizarre decree be scrapped. The Dalits have spent their lives in the shadow of discriminatory norms set by the members of the upper caste. They are not allowed to use water from wells meant for the upper caste, sit on cots and have to keep footwear on heads before entering houses of the upper class. "It has been in force from a very long time in the village. We have been seeing this since childhood. Our hair and our ancestors' hair are never cut by barbers of upper communities. We have tried to go to the salons a few times, but they give us excuses. They say that heads of their communities have stopped them from cutting our hair or they don't have time", said a local, Harish Kumar, adding, "Either we cut our hair at home…if there is an emergency, we get our haircut at home itself." District Magistrate, Muzaffarnagar, Dinesh Kumar Singh said such acts need to condemned. "As you (mediaperson) said, I will bring it to the notice of the authorities. And, if any such decree of not working (cutting hairs) for the lower caste people are issued, it should be condemned. We will not let this happen. We will investigate into the matter and take requisite action," said Singh. Numbering 160 million, Dalits represent 16 per cent of India's population of more than one billion. Caste discrimination is banned in India and special quotas exist for Dalits in Parliament, state legislatures, village councils, government jobs and educational institutions. (Reuters)

In India's Uttar Pradesh, salons deny service to 'lower castes'