Minister Mandaviya writes to CM Stalin on workers' strike at Samsung plant

CHENNAI: Taking note of the ongoing protest by workers of the Samsung plant near Chennai, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to Chief Minister MK Stalin, urging his government's immediate intervention to resolve the agitation.

The minister has urged the state government to intervene for an early and amicable resolution for maintaining a positive manufacturing sector ecosystem, a source told news agency PTI.

He also assured full support from the ministry to help the State in resolving the matter efficiently.

"Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya has written a letter to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu regarding the ongoing workers' strike at the Sriperumbudur plant of Samsung Electronics," the source said.

There was no immediate response from the State government about the letter from the Union Minister.

About 1,000 workers belonging to the Samsung India Workers Union, backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), have been on indefinite strike since September 9 pressing for various demands including recognition of their union, wage revision, better work-timings, among others.

Meanwhile, commenting on the development, Samsung India Workers’ Union president and CITU Kancheepuram district secretary E Muthukumar said the Union government directing the State government alone was not enough to resolve the impasse. It should ask Samsung to comply with Indian labour laws to reach an amicable settlement, he said.

“The strike has entered the 17th day but the State government has not taken any steps through the Labour Department to hold conciliation talks with the union and the company. No official talks were held for the last 13 days,” he said. He also demanded the Union government to impress upon and instruct Samsung, a South Korea-based multinational giant, to hold talks with the workers and reach a settlement.

Meanwhile, the CPM-affiliated trade union announced that it would hold road rokos across the State on October 1 in support of the striking Samsung workers and seeking intervention of the State government.

In a communication to the workers on Friday, Samsung had assured that it would not take action against those employees who wish to resume work, but warned of termination from the services if they continue with their protest, adding that they would not receive compensation during those days when they went on strike from September 9, based on "No Work, No Pay." 

Samsung India currently manufactures consumer durables at the 16-year-old factory and employs about 1,800 workers.

(With PTI inputs)