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104 Samsung workers were detained by police for protesting low wages without permission.
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Workers demand higher wages, union recognition, and better working hours, disrupting production worth $12 billion annually.
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Samsung initiated discussions with workers to resolve issues, but refuses to recognize outside labour unions.
Police detained 104 Samsung workers protesting outside the company’s Chennai plant for higher wages and better working hours ¹ ². The workers, who have been on strike for seven days, were planning a march without permission, prompting police action. The protest disrupted production at the plant, which contributes significantly to Samsung’s annual India revenue of $12 billion.
According to K. Shanmugam, senior police officer of Kancheepuram district, the protest could have paralyzed the area and disturbed public peace due to nearby schools, colleges, and hospitals ¹ ². The detained workers were held in wedding halls due to lack of space at the police station.
The workers, supported by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), demand recognition of their union, higher wages, and improved working conditions ¹ ². However, Samsung is reluctant to recognize any union backed by an outside labour group. Despite this, the company has initiated discussions with workers to resolve the issues at the earliest.
Most of the detained workers were released late Monday night, except for three ¹. The strike adds to Samsung’s challenges in India, including planned job cuts and antitrust allegations.
