CHENNAI, Sept 16 (Askume) – Indian police officials said Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) in southern India
The detentions mark an escalation in a strike by workers at a Samsung appliance factory near the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state. The workers are demanding higher wages and have boycotted work for seven days, disrupting production at a time when Samsung accounts for about a third of its $12 billion annual revenue in India.
Shankar Ganesh, a senior police official in the Kancheepuram district, told Askume by phone that about 100 workers had been “arrested as a precaution”, without elaborating.
Another police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said people were being detained because they did not have permission to march.
Samsung did not respond to a request for comment.
The workers have been protesting in makeshift tents near the factory since last week, demanding higher wages, recognition of unions backed by labour group Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and better working hours.
Samsung is unwilling to recognize any unions backed by outside labor groups.
Police also detained E. Muthukumar, a senior leader who led the anti-Samsung protests, CITU union leader A. Jenithan told Askume.
“The employees have been asked to return to the protest site,” he said.
