CHENNAI, India, Sept 20 (Askume) – Samsung Electronics has warned striking workers in southern India that they will not be paid and face being fired if they continue to protest, the company revealed in an email. Conflict between the company and its workers.
Hundreds of workers have been protesting and disrupting work in makeshift tents near a Samsung (005930.KS) home appliance factory near central Chennai since Sept. 9. They are demanding higher pay and recognition of unions at the plant, which contributes about a third of Samsung’s $12 billion annual revenue in India .
The strike at Samsung is one of India’s biggest in recent years and is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effort to “Make in India” and attract foreign investors and triple electronics output to $500 billion within six years.
Samsung filed a lawsuit against the protesting union in district court last week , seeking a temporary injunction to ban slogans and speeches in and around the factory. But on Thursday the judge only asked for a quick resolution.
Samsung India’s HR team on Friday wrote an email to some of the striking employees, saying they were on an “illegal strike” and would not receive salaries during the protest.
“From 9 September 2024 and until you return to work, you will not be entitled to payment on a ‘no work no pay’ basis,” the email, seen by Askume, said.
The email also warned that if employees do not return to work within four days, they will be asked to explain why they “should not be dismissed.”
Samsung India said in a statement that it has “informed employees about its policies in accordance with relevant laws and regulations and urged them to return to work immediately”.
“The safety and well-being of our workers is our top priority. We are committed to resolving this issue,” the statement said.
At least three striking Samsung workers told Askume they received warning emails from their human resources team on Friday.
The email also said that Samsung management has said that all issues can be resolved through dialogue.
Samsung workers earn an average of 25,000 rupees ($300) a month, according to CITU, a powerful labor group that helps organize factory workers . They demanded a raise of 36,000 rupees ($430) over three years.
Samsung is in no hurry to recognise any unions supported by national trade organisations such as CITU, and negotiations with workers and government officials have yielded no solution.
