Police detain scores of striking Samsung workers in India

The employees of a factory in Tamil Nadu state have been on a strike seeking recognition of a workers’ union, and better wages

Police in Tamil Nadu in southern India detained around 100 employees of a Samsung Electronics factory on Monday as they planned to march to the district collector’s office, according to newspaper Times of India. The incident marks an escalation in the week-long strike initiated by workers demanding better pay and conditions.

Officials stated that permission for the march was denied due to the presence of schools, colleges, and hospitals in the area.

Since last week, employees at the South Korean electronics giant’s home appliance plant near Chennai have been protesting at a makeshift tent, seeking higher wages, better working hours, and recognition of their labor. Approximately 1,700 workers—85% of the workforce—are participating in the protest, which has affected the plant’s output.

According to Times of India, the Samsung India Workers Union, supported by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), is demanding that management engage in discussions regarding wage revisions and other worker concerns.

However, Reuters reported on Monday that Samsung is reluctant to recognize any union backed by the CITU, and discussions with workers and state officials have not resulted in a resolution. The plant generates about one-third of Samsung’s annual revenue in India, estimated at $12 billion.

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Labor leaders told Reuters that the strike will continue until their demands are met, and several other union groups plan to hold protests in support of the striking workers. Notably, this strike coincides with major Indian festivals, Navratri and Diwali, when sales of phones and appliances typically surge.

A spokesperson for Samsung India stated last week that the company is actively engaging with workers “to address any grievances they may have and comply with all laws and regulations.”

India is a key growth market for Samsung’s core products, including smartphones. In the April-to-June quarter of the current financial year, Samsung led the market in value with a 24% share, followed by Vivo and Apple, according to Counterpoint Research.

The strike at Samsung in India follows recent developments in South Korea, where thousands of members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) – representing nearly a quarter of the company’s 30,000-strong workforce – staged a protest demanding higher wages and improved benefits.