Violence breaks out at iPhone plant, employees allege exploitation

All India Central Council for Trade Unions (AACCTU) have prepared a fact-finding report on the violence which occured at an iPhone manufacturing unit under a Taiwanese company in Kolar. The report alleged that severe injustice and exploitation led the labours for the eruption of violence.

The report was prepared on the basis of the information that was collected directly from the workers. Almost 10000 workers were from the Wistron company located in the industrialised area and are contract workers. These workers were selected by the contractors of the company.

According to the report, there are six such contractors under the company. However, the report alleges that the company included only the names of the contractors and this was a ploy by the Wistron company to avoid permanent appointments and to deny the rights of the labourers who already have a daily work shift of 12 hours. Citing heavy workload and stagnant salaries, workers protested to demand their right to overtime pay and their salary but the company refused their requests.

Most of the workers are from lower-caste communities in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh. The company authorities have informed them that they need to return until further notice. AICCTU said that the government should take immediate action on their employment issues.