Foxconn workers protest

The company, which was a major supplier to the defunct Nokia plant in Sriperumbudur, suspended operations from Monday citing lack of work orders, leaving 1300 workers jobless.

The fifth round of tripartite talks between the workers’ union, company management and labour department officials to discuss an amicable solution this morning failed, said members of the Foxconn employees’ union.

Assistant labour commissioner Mr Dharmaseelan asked the management not to suspend work and to allow workers to enter the factory and sign the register. However, the company officials categorically refused to open the gates, saying there was no production.

“The assistant labour commissioner made it clear to the management that he would initiate prosecution after obtaining permission from the commissioner for refusal to adhere to his advisory. He even noted it down in the minutes of the meeting,” said Mr S. Kannan, secretary of Foxconn India Workers’ Union, recognised by the company.

After the talks failed, the sloganeering workers led by Mr Soundararajan tried to forcefully enter the company for the second consecutive day to register their protest.

But the protesting 550-odd workers were detained by the police and lodged in a marriage hall. They were later released.

In its notice to the employees, a copy of which was circulated to the labour department, Foxconn said due to lack of orders from its customers there was no jobs for regular employees.

“However, considering the welfare of the employees, the management has been giving salaries for the regular work employees for the last eight months. While it was 100 persons initially, the total number of persons who were given salaries without jobs was increasing and stood at 850 persons in November,” it said.

“In order to reach an amicable solution, it is now informed that the company has decided to offer VRS or severance package,” the notice said. As there is now a situation wherein employees cannot be offered jobs, the management has decided to give them salaries along with paid holidays, it said.

Dismissing the management’s argument that lack of order has led to suspension of operation, Mr G. Gomathy, one of the employees, said that it was a ploy to dismiss all the workers who were getting wages above Rs 14,000 per month and to replace them with workers who would be paid less. “The company’s Oragadam unit is being operated with orders from Sony mobiles. The same products can be produced here too but the management does not want it,” she alleged.

Foxconn India Employees Union President, Mr E. Muthu Kumar said that the tripartite talks scheduled for December 26 would be held at the Labour Commissioner’s office as announced earlier. “We want jobs. We do not want the plant to be closed like Nokia’s facility”, he added.