Hundreds of Samsung India factory workers protest suspension of colleagues
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Around 500 workers at Samsung’s manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, have launched a sit-in protest against the suspension of three employees.
In response, the company has deployed contract workers to maintain production, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
This marks the second major labor conflict at the facility in less than six months. The factory, which produces refrigerators, televisions, and washing machines, contributed significantly to Samsung’s $12 billion (roughly Rs. 1,05,020 crore) India sales in 2022-23. It employs approximately 1,800 workers.
In an official statement, Samsung said that "most of our workers remain dedicated in ensuring that normal business operations continue." The company also emphasized that production remains unaffected due to the use of contract workers. However, the workers' union disputed this, claiming that the refrigerator manufacturing unit had experienced disruptions.
According to A. Soundararajan, a representative of the Samsung India Workers’ Union, the protest will continue as the suspended employees were not given a fair hearing. He explained that the suspensions were linked to workers standing outside the administration office to voice their demands.
"Discussions with the government are already under way," Soundararajan said. The Tamil Nadu state government has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Samsung defended its actions, stating that the suspensions were necessary to "protect the work environment and other workers" and that the affected employees would face appropriate disciplinary measures following a formal inquiry. The company did not specify the exact reasons for the suspensions.
"We continue to make efforts towards a collective agreement with our workers to resolve the issues and for this, we remain open to a dialogue facilitated by the government," Samsung said in its statement.
The protest follows a five-week strike at the same plant last year, during which workers demanded higher wages and union recognition. That dispute ended in October after Samsung committed to addressing their concerns. With negotiations now in progress, the outcome of the latest standoff remains uncertain.