Police detain 100 protesting workers, union leaders of Samsung's Chennai plant: Report

The plant's production halt impacts approximately one-third of Samsung's $12 billion annual revenue from India.

Local police have detained around 100 workers and union leaders of a Samsung Electronics plant in Tamil Nadu, escalating a week-long strike over wages, news agency Reuters has reported. They were detained ahead of an unauthorised protest march.

The strike, which has disrupted operations at the Samsung home appliance unit near Chennai, is driven by demands for higher wages, union recognition and better working conditions. The strike impacts approximately one-third of Samsung's $12 billion annual revenue from India.

Sankar Ganesh, a senior police official in Kancheepuram district, told Reuters that the detentions were preventive but did not provide more details.

An police source said the detentions were due to the workers' failure to secure permission for the protest.

Samsung was yet to respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

The South Korean electronics giant has been hesitant to acknowledge unions supported by external labour groups such as the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), which backs the protesting workers, the report said.

Union leader A Jenitan said that E Muthukumar, a senior CITU leader involved in the protests, was among those detained. Workers have been instructed to return to their makeshift protest camp near the plant.