The flourishing SEZ near Chennai is witnessing an activism surge as workers allege oppression in MNCs like Samsung and Flextronics.
“I’ve got a few things on my mind right now. The main being I’m not married yet,” says S (name withheld), cracking a wry smile. “It’s tough finding a girl on my current salary. After working for a decade, I should be earning more than Rs 32,000. My annual salary goes up by a mere Rs 2,000 a year.”
He is on his way to attend the first meeting of a newly formed workers’ union. A few hundred others walk with him. All employees of Samsung India’s manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai.
“In all other companies, people work for …
Parvathi covered tech startups and large corporates at The Morning Context. She has been a journalist for eight years. Previously, she worked as a data journalist at The Hindu BusinessLine.
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parvathi@mailtmc.com
Chennai