Since September 10, a large-scale strike broke out at a Samsung factory in southern India due to labor protests against low wages and has lasted for several days. On Monday, the strike escalated and resulted in 104 workers being detained by the police.
Workers at a Samsung home appliance factory in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, southern India, have been on strike since last Tuesday (September 10). Thousands of workers had been protesting in a makeshift tent near the factory for several days, demanding higher wages, recognition of unions supported by the labor organization Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and improved working hours.
But over the past few days, Samsung has been unwilling to recognize any union backed by labor groups and has offered no solutions in talks with workers and state officials.
On Monday, workers' strike action escalated. Senior local police officer K. Shanmugam said workers at the factory planned to start a protest march on Monday, but because there are schools, universities and hospitals in the area, they were not allowed to march and were detained.
Indian officials said 104 striking workers at the factory were detained by police as they planned to hold a march without permission.
According to reports, there are about 1,800 workers at the Samsung factory where the strike occurred, and more than 1,000 of them participated in the strike. The factory produces appliances such as refrigerators, televisions and washing machines. Workers' strikes over the past few days have disrupted production at the factory. About a third of Samsung's $12 billion in annual revenue in India comes from products produced at the factory.
It is worth mentioning that the factory on strike is located in southern India, while there was no riot at another Samsung smartphone factory in Uttar Pradesh, India.
However, the Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), which supports the strike, said:
The protests against Samsung have cast a shadow on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plans. Modi has been planning to attract foreign investors to participate in "Make in India" and triple the production of electronic products to $500 billion within six years.
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