Guwahati, Oct 9: Members of the CITU state centre staged a protest near Meghdoot Bhawan, Panbazar in Guwahati on Tuesday against the atrocities on workers at the Korean multinational Samsung Electronics Company in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.The protestors shouted slogans like ‘Stop the harassment of workers’, ‘Stop torturing workers for unionization’ and ‘No If, No But, Union is a Must’
Addressing the protesters, CITU state general secretary Tapan Sharma said that the legal rights of workers are being cut every day under the patronage of the BJP government at the Centre. The right to wages, the right to job security and the right to pensions are severely affected today.
“A blazing example of such attacks is the Samsung company in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. This multinational company is committing unspeakable abuse against its employees. There are 1,810 workers employed. 1,450 of them got together and formed a union registered by the Department of Labour of our country. That is the biggest crime,” Sharma said.
The protest against Samsung Electronics escalated as company authorities began to target the union leadership. The company has openly stated that it will not recognize the union, even if it has been registered by the Indian government. Since September 9, 2024, workers have been on strike to oppose the company’s actions, facing severe repercussions from police, which have resulted in injuries and ongoing treatments for several workers.
Labour leaders have also been arrested multiple times. In a show of solidarity, workers from the Korean manufacturing plant where Samsung is headquartered have joined the cause, standing with the 1,500 workers in India.
CITU representatives, including district secretary Ali Akbar, president Mukut Mani Das, and labour leaders like Badan Bhuyan, Pranita Vaishya, Damayanti Boro, Mamoni Bora, and Pratul Burman, emphasized their commitment to defending workers’ rights. They demanded that multinational companies respect the Constitution and allow workers to form unions freely.
Concerns were raised about the Central government’s inaction regarding Samsung’s violations, especially as the BJP government focuses on amending labour laws and promoting policies that some view as exploitative towards workers. CITU has called upon workers across the country and the state to support the striking Samsung workers and join the broader struggle for labour rights.
Similar protests occurred in Bishwanath Chariali, Rangapara, Dibrugarh, Mirza, Bangagaon, and other locations in Assam, all demanding an immediate end to the harassment of workers by Samsung authorities.
