Around 500 workers at Samsung’s factory in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, have staged a sit-in protest over the suspension of three employees. This marks the second significant labor dispute at the plant in less than six months. The protestors argue that the suspensions were unjust and were imposed without proper hearings or explanation.
Samsung responded by deploying contract workers to maintain operations at the facility. The company stated that most workers remained committed to ensuring business continuity. However, according to A. Soundararajan, a leader of the Samsung India Workers’ Union, the protest will continue until the suspensions are addressed. Soundararajan emphasized that the employees were punished merely for protesting outside the administration office.
The company defended its actions, saying the suspensions were necessary to protect the work environment and ensure the safety of other workers. It also confirmed that a formal inquiry would take place to determine the workers’ fate. Samsung expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with the workers, facilitated by the government, to resolve the issues.
This protest follows a history of labor unrest at the facility, where workers have voiced concerns over treatment and working conditions. With this ongoing dispute, the pressure on Samsung to resolve the tensions continues to build.
Samsung SRI Noida building by Darkwolf0010 on Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0
