Samsung Workers Protest for Better Wages and Conditions in Chennai
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Samsung employees have been protesting for 22 days, demanding higher wages, union recognition, and an 8-hour workday. On Gandhi Jayanti, they held a non-violent hunger strike and paid respects to Mahatma Gandhi.
The Samsung factory, located in Sunguvarchatiram in Kanchipuram district, employs over 1500 workers. Since September 9, these workers have been engaged in continuous protests. Earlier, a ‘road roko’ was held across Tamil Nadu by the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), with over 900 workers participating in Kanchipuram district. Some workers were detained by the police and released later in the night. A case has been registered against the workers under eight sections.
Tamil Nadu CITU state secretary Muthukumar stated that the hunger strike would continue till the evening and condemned the police’s actions. CITU state President Soundarrajan criticized the government for not supporting the workers despite prior promises. He compared the current situation to a 1972 protest where workers eventually won despite government inaction.
Samsung India responded by stating that it pays 1.8 times more than the average salary of manufacturing workers in the region. The company emphasized that the welfare of its workers is a top priority.
Doubts Revealed
Samsung -: Samsung is a big company from South Korea that makes things like phones, TVs, and other electronics.
Protest -: A protest is when people gather to show they are unhappy about something and want it to change.
Chennai -: Chennai is a large city in the southern part of India.
Wages -: Wages are the money people get paid for the work they do.
Union -: A union is a group of workers who come together to make sure they are treated fairly at work.
Gandhi Jayanti -: Gandhi Jayanti is a holiday in India that celebrates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who helped India become free from British rule.
Hunger strike -: A hunger strike is when people refuse to eat to show they are very serious about their demands.
Mahatma Gandhi -: Mahatma Gandhi was a leader who used non-violent ways to help India gain independence from British rule.
Police detentions -: Police detentions mean that the police have taken some people into custody, usually to stop them from protesting.
Regional average -: Regional average is the typical amount of money people in a certain area get paid for their work.
Government’s inaction -: Government’s inaction means that the government is not doing anything to help solve the problem.