03:15Police arrested hundreds of Samsung workers who protested for better pay and working conditions in Chennai on Tuesday.
Footage shows demonstrators chanting slogans and arguing with police while waving Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (CITU) flags. The video also features police detaining demonstrators and escorting them to buses which were then seen leaving the protest site. Local authorities said that the reason for the arrests was the disruption of traffic, as well as the lack of a permit for the rally.
"Last time when we came to protest we were all arrested, so to ensure we don't get arrested before we protested, we split and came here from different directions and gathered here to push for our demands," a protester said.
In total, Samsung's Sunguvarchatram plant employs about 1,800 people, with more than 1,000 on strike according to media reports over higher salaries but also demanding to form a union.
Strikes at the Korean giant's local plant began on 9 September, causing disruptions to operations. In response to the demands, Samsung labelled the strike as 'illegal' and announced that protesting employees would not get paid but promised it would give 'importance' to the needs of the employees. So far negotiations between the workers and the company have not yielded any results, however.
The Samsung plant accounts for one-fifth of Samsung's annual revenue in India, based on 2022-2023 figures. This plant manufactures home appliances such as refrigerators, televisions and washing machines.
Police arrest hundreds of Samsung workers in Chennai amid strike for better pay, recognition of union
Police arrested hundreds of Samsung workers who protested for better pay and working conditions in Chennai on Tuesday.
Footage shows demonstrators chanting slogans and arguing with police while waving Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (CITU) flags. The video also features police detaining demonstrators and escorting them to buses which were then seen leaving the protest site. Local authorities said that the reason for the arrests was the disruption of traffic, as well as the lack of a permit for the rally.
"Last time when we came to protest we were all arrested, so to ensure we don't get arrested before we protested, we split and came here from different directions and gathered here to push for our demands," a protester said.
In total, Samsung's Sunguvarchatram plant employs about 1,800 people, with more than 1,000 on strike according to media reports over higher salaries but also demanding to form a union.
Strikes at the Korean giant's local plant began on 9 September, causing disruptions to operations. In response to the demands, Samsung labelled the strike as 'illegal' and announced that protesting employees would not get paid but promised it would give 'importance' to the needs of the employees. So far negotiations between the workers and the company have not yielded any results, however.
The Samsung plant accounts for one-fifth of Samsung's annual revenue in India, based on 2022-2023 figures. This plant manufactures home appliances such as refrigerators, televisions and washing machines.
Police arrested hundreds of Samsung workers who protested for better pay and working conditions in Chennai on Tuesday.
Footage shows demonstrators chanting slogans and arguing with police while waving Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (CITU) flags. The video also features police detaining demonstrators and escorting them to buses which were then seen leaving the protest site. Local authorities said that the reason for the arrests was the disruption of traffic, as well as the lack of a permit for the rally.
"Last time when we came to protest we were all arrested, so to ensure we don't get arrested before we protested, we split and came here from different directions and gathered here to push for our demands," a protester said.
In total, Samsung's Sunguvarchatram plant employs about 1,800 people, with more than 1,000 on strike according to media reports over higher salaries but also demanding to form a union.
Strikes at the Korean giant's local plant began on 9 September, causing disruptions to operations. In response to the demands, Samsung labelled the strike as 'illegal' and announced that protesting employees would not get paid but promised it would give 'importance' to the needs of the employees. So far negotiations between the workers and the company have not yielded any results, however.
The Samsung plant accounts for one-fifth of Samsung's annual revenue in India, based on 2022-2023 figures. This plant manufactures home appliances such as refrigerators, televisions and washing machines.