Indian Police Detain Over 100 Workers Related to Samsung Electronics Strike

Samsung Electronics Sriperumbudur Home Appliance Factory
Local Police "Detained to Prevent Unauthorized March"

Indian police detained 104 workers who were on strike at Samsung Electronics' factory in India, major foreign media reported on the 16th (local time).

According to the reports, local workers at Samsung Electronics' Sriperumbudur home appliance factory near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, planned a march demanding wage increases and other issues on that day. However, local police stated that they did not grant permission for the march because the area includes a university and hospital, and to prevent an unauthorized march, they detained the workers inside a nearby wedding hall.

The Samsung Electronics building in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Yonhap News

Local media The Hindu also reported that over 100 Samsung Electronics workers and union leaders were detained by local police while planning an unauthorized march.

Hundreds of Samsung Electronics workers have been on strike since last week, demanding recognition of their union, improved working hours, and wage increases. They have not gone to the factory and are protesting by setting up tents nearby.

The Hindu reported that fewer than 2,000 employees work at this factory, producing refrigerators, washing machines, and other appliances, accounting for about one-third of Samsung's annual sales in India, which amount to approximately $12 billion (about 16 trillion won).

As the strike began, most workers did not report to work, reducing production by half on the 9th. On the 10th, production reportedly decreased by 30%.