A strike at Samsung’s facility in Tamil Nadu has halted production at the company as workers demand higher wages. CITU is best known for its influence in the automotive sector with companies such as Hyundai, but is now expanding its efforts into the electronics manufacturing sector.
Samsung’s protests have raised concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to attract foreign investment and boost electronics production in India. With business-friendly policies and low labor costs, the country has attracted companies such as Foxconn and Micron, which aim to diversify supply chains away from China.
On Friday, workers continued their demonstration wearing blue Samsung shirts and red CITU hats. The labor group, which began in 1970 and has 6.6 million members, is pushing for better pay and collective bargaining opportunities in the fast-growing electronics sector.
S Kannan, deputy general secretary of CITU in Tamil Nadu, highlighted the lack of adequate wage reviews and negotiation opportunities in the sector. He mentioned that CITU is also protecting the rights of workers at Apple supplier Flex and electronics company Sanmina, demanding union recognition and better wages.
Flex responded by reaffirming its commitment to the highest global standards of labour practices and a respectful work environment. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office, the federal IT ministry, the Tamil Nadu labour ministry and Sanmina have not commented on the situation.
The strike at Samsung is significant as the Tamil Nadu plant accounts for nearly a third of Samsung’s $12 billion annual revenue in India. The unrest coincides with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s visit to the United States, where he met companies such as Nike and Ford.
CITU’s private letter to Samsung management in July requesting higher wages went unanswered, leading to the current strike. The average monthly salary of Samsung workers is reported to be Rs 25,000 ($300), with a demand for an increase of Rs 36,000 ($430) over three years. The cost of living has made life difficult for workers, some of whom have been with the company for a decade and earn only Rs 23,000 per month.
Reuters contributed to this article.
This story was translated using artificial intelligence. For more information, see our Terms of Use.
