Worker unrest at Samsung plant in India sparks new union efforts
The strike, backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), highlights broader concerns over low pay and lack of collective bargaining in India’s manufacturing sector.
A labour strike at a Samsung plant in southern India has disrupted production for five days, drawing attention to a politically-backed union seeking to strengthen its foothold in the country’s growing electronics sector. The protests, sparked by low wages, come as India aims to boost its electronics manufacturing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, which hopes to triple production to $500 billion within six years.
The striking workers, backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), are demanding wage increases, citing long-standing issues with low pay and lack of collective bargaining opportunities. This unrest highlights growing concerns about labour conditions in India’s manufacturing sector, which has attracted global giants like Samsung, Foxconn, and Micron with business-friendly policies and cheap labour. CITU, a union historically active in the auto sector, now aims to expand its influence in the electronics industry.
Samsung workers are demanding a raise from their current average wage of 25,000 rupees (€260/$300) to 36,000 rupees (€386/$430) over three years. Despite ongoing protests, Samsung has begun discussions with workers to resolve the situation, while experts warn that strikes could be reduced if multinational companies better adhered to labour laws and ensured fair wages.