Tamil Nadu government registers Samsung India Workers Union

Samsung’s Sunguvarchatram plant, one of the company’s two factories in India, employs around 1,800 permanent workers and manufactures refrigerators, televisions, and washing machines.

Tamil Nadu labour department registered the Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) on January 27, following a Madras High Court directive issued on December 6.

The court had ordered the department to process the union’s application within six weeks. The certificate of registration was issued on the final day of the deadline. The Union, backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), has been seeking recognition to address grievances related to wages and working conditions.

The prolonged delay in registration caused significant tensions, with CITU warning of a strike at Samsung’s Sunguvarchatram plant in Kancheepuram district, near Chennai.

Workers at the plant had protested for 37 days, demanding union recognition and assurances against retaliatory action by management. The protest ended in October 2024 after conciliatory talks between the workers, management, and government representatives.

“We are relieved the registration has been approved. There was no reason for the delay, as all required documents were submitted months ago,” said a CITU representative.The registration of the Union helps the workers to have a formal platform to negotiate better conditions with the management.

Samsung’s Sunguvarchatram plant, one of the company’s two factories in India, employs around 1,800 permanent workers and manufactures refrigerators, televisions, and washing machines. The other plant, located in Uttar Pradesh, produces smartphones.