Hundreds of workers at Samsung India’s manufacturing plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, staged a day-long protest near the factory, demanding recognition of a newly formed union, better wages, and improved working conditions.
Backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the workers sat on the road outside the factory, calling on management to address their concerns. According to a notice shared by the union, the plant, operational for 16 years, employs around 1,700 workers. However, their wages are reportedly lower than those of other industrial workers.
Established in 2007, the Sriperumbudur facility is one of Samsung’s two factories in India, the other being in Noida. The Tamil Nadu plant, which employs nearly 2,000 workers, produces consumer products such as televisions, washing machines and air conditioners.
E Muthukumar, head of the unrecognised Samsung India union, said production was severely impacted as 90% of the workforce, over 1,500 workers, joined the protest.
When asked about the duration of the strike, Muthukumar said a meeting with Samsung management is scheduled for Tuesday, after which a decision will be made on whether to continue or end the protest.
A Samsung India spokesperson said in an email the company actively engages with ‘workers to address any grievances they may have and comply with all laws and regulations’.
Samsung will ‘ensure that there is no disruption to our consumers’, he added.
In July, FE was the first to report on labour unrest at the Sriperumbudur plant when hundreds of workers gathered outside the facility for a ‘gate meeting’ protest.
Muthukumar also criticized Samsung’s arbitrary salary revision process, stating that ‘the company offers different salaries to employees with the same qualifications and experience. These are some of the issues we’re facing’.
From: financialexpress
Financial News
