Workers at Samsung Electronics plant begin strike, production hit

Around 85 per cent of the total 1,700 employees at the Samsung Electronics manufacturing unit in Sriperumbudur, approximately 40 kilometres from Chennai, continued their strike for the second day on Tuesday, affecting the operations of the unit. The workers' demands include a wage hike and the freedom for the workers' union to function within the plant.

The unit manufactures televisions, colour monitors, refrigerators, and washing machines. According to E Muthukumar, a Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leader from Kancheepuram district and president of the Samsung India Workers’ Union (SIWU), around 85 per cent of the workers are participating in the strike. A Samsung India spokesperson stated that the welfare of its employees is among its top priorities.

Interestingly, SIWU was formed in July with CITU backing at the South Korean electronics giant's factory in Sunguvarchatram, near Sriperumbudur. At that time, the union also extended solidarity to 30,000 striking Samsung workers in Seoul, South Korea.