Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 24 (ANI): As the strike by Samsung Electronics employees in Chennai continues, the company on Tuesday claimed that it is paying 1.8 times more than the average salary of manufacturing workers in the region.
“At Samsung India, the welfare of our workers is our top priority. The average monthly salary of our full-time manufacturing workers at the Chennai plant is 1.8 times higher than that of similar workers employed by other companies in the region,” the company stated.
The company further said that it is ready to engage with the workers to address their grievances.
“Our workers are also eligible for overtime pay and other allowances. We provide a workplace environment that ensures the highest standards of health, safety, and welfare. We reiterate that we are ready to engage with our workers to address their grievances so they can return to work at the earliest,” it added.
More than 1,000 Samsung workers have been on strike near the factory since September 9, demanding the implementation of 20 key demands, including a wage hike, union recognition, and an 8-hour workday.
Previously, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Tamil Nadu State Secretary stated that Samsung management had filed a case in the Kanchipuram court requesting that protestors be seated 500 metres away from the premises, even though they were already sitting two kilometres away.
Muthukumar said, “The Samsung management has initiated a case in the Kanchipuram court stating we should sit 500 metres away from their premises, but we are nearly two kilometres away. They have accused us of brainwashing employees who continue to work.”
The trade unions have announced that the protests will continue until their demands are met.
The CITU Tamil Nadu Secretary also said earlier that the management had asked workers to disband the union and was hindering union recognition by raising various complaints.
The workers, led by union head Muthukumar, are demanding better wages and improved working conditions. Hundreds of striking Samsung employees, dressed in their company uniforms, have been sitting outside the plant.
Muthukumar added, “Our demands have not been met, and management has urged us to disband the union. They are hindering the recognition of the union by raising complaints. When the union decided to stop overtime, the management forced employees to work overtime for up to 11 hours.”
The first and second rounds of talks with the state labour department and labour minister at the Secretariat have failed. On Monday, protestors were detained after entering Kanchipuram but were released later in the evening. A case was filed against more than 100 employees. (ANI)
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