Tamil Nadu govt. approves registration of Samsung India Workers Union

Tamil Nadu Labour Department approves Samsung India Workers Union registration after court intervention

The Tamil Nadu Labour Department on Monday approved the registration of the Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

The registration certificate of the Samsung India Thozhilalargal Sangam was issued by the Joint Commissioner of Labour after the Madras High Court asked the State government on December 5, 2024, to take a decision on the SIWU’s registration within six weeks.

The workers had applied for the registration in June 2024, but the process was delayed even after necessary documents were submitted. The delay sparked protests in September, with over 1,200 workers striking for better wages and working conditions and union recognition. They also demanded more toilets and better overtime pay and medical insurance. 

The workers ended the strike in October after Samsung agreed to the demands that included no punitive action against the protesting workers, no wage cuts for the period of protests, and a commitment from Samsung to submit written replies to the workers’ demands before the conciliation officer.

Speaking to The Hindu, CITU Tamil Nadu general secretary A.S.  Soundarajan called the registration a victory for the workers and said it demonstrated their persistence despite the company’s attempts to foil their efforts at unionisation.

However, he criticised the government for taking too long to approve the registration, which had led to the protests. He said the approval should have been given easily, but was delayed. This forced the workers to seek justice in court. “We understand the company’s reluctance to agree to unionisation, but why did the government delay it for so long,” he asked.

Mr. Soundarajan thanked activists, trade unions, and others who had helped the workers realise their right to unionise.