Samsung India Workers End Month-Long Strike Following Agreement on Key Demands

After more than a month of protests, workers at Samsung Electronics’ factory in Tamil Nadu, India, have called off their strike. Around 1,500 workers at the Chennai plant had participated in the strike, pressing for better wages, improved working conditions, and recognition of their newly-formed union, the Samsung India Labour Welfare Union (SILWU).

While Samsung has not yet formally recognized the union, the company has agreed to engage with workers on other demands, including wage increases, medical insurance, and better facilities. The strike, one of the largest faced by the South Korean tech giant in recent years, posed potential challenges to India’s efforts to position itself as a leading alternative to China for manufacturing.

The decision to end the strike followed a meeting between the workers, represented by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and Tamil Nadu labor officials. E. Muthukumar, a labor activist, confirmed that workers would resume their jobs immediately, with the issue of union registration to be decided in court.

Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, TRB Rajaa, assured that Samsung would not retaliate against workers who participated in the strike. Samsung echoed this sentiment, stating that it welcomed the resolution and would continue working closely with its employees to improve the factory’s working environment.