It is very important to protect the rights of employees, But it also has to be kept in mind that enterprises will remain, Only then will employment opportunities remain. Industrial disputes are not uncommon, Nor is their solution beyond the bounds of possibility.
The month-long strike of employees at Samsung Company in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu has raised some fundamental questions, which are related to many dimensions of the current economy. 1,300 employees of this plant started the strike on September 9. They are demanding higher wages, better facilities, and recognition of trade unions. Among these, the demand for salary has come at the center of most debate. The union says that the employees of the Sriperumbudur plant get an average salary of Rs 25 to 30 thousand, whereas the average salary of the same company’s factory in Seoul is Rs 5.25 lakh (in Indian currency). This argument is not acceptable. The cost of living in South Korea is many times higher than India. In such a situation this comparison does not seem appropriate.
Anyway, the central and state governments in India are in a race to attract foreign companies for investment. The specialty of India that they promote in this is the cheap rate of wages. However, the fact is definitely important that the increased inflation after the Corona period has reduced the purchasing power of the Indian rupee, since salaries have generally not increased in proportion to it. Therefore, the demand for salary increase seems right. Keeping these facts in mind, if both sides adopt a logical approach, then a solution is not impossible. Now state Chief Minister MK Stalin has also taken the initiative. He has entrusted the responsibility of mediation to his two ministers.
Hopefully, these two ministers will be successful in creating a consensus between the management and the union. It is very important to protect the rights of employees, but it should also be kept in mind that only if enterprises exist, employment opportunities will remain. Industrial disputes are not uncommon, nor are their resolutions beyond the bounds of possibility. The strike received global publicity, raising new questions about investment prospects in India. Therefore, early end of this strike is in everyone’s interest.