BENGALURU: Workers at the Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron’s factory in Narasapura, about 70 km from Bengaluru, went on rampage on Saturday morning over the non-payment of wages and extended working hours.
Two videos from the violence spot showed hundreds of employees vandalising assembly units, office space and cars parked in the premises, breaking window panes and shouting slogans against the employer.
The Kolar police lathicharged to disperse the crowd and many workers were hospitalised after they suffered injuries in the lathicharge.
A member of a trade union aware of developments told ET that the violence was a result of pent-up anger of workers. Majority of employees at the manufacturing unit were hired on contract by six contract agencies.
“Workers have been facing multiple issues over the last few months. Although they were promised a salary of Rs 16,000 per month, they were given just Rs 12,000. There was a three months delay in payment of salaries. The workers were also made to work overtime without being paid extra,” the union member said, adding that the company management had been refusing to give an audience to workers’ grievances.
“The industrial violence in Wistron is a direct result of the brutal exploitation of workers and sweatshop-like conditions created by a company, manufacturing the most expensive mobile phones. The state government has allowed the company to flout basic rights of the workers like payment of wages and working hours,” MD Harigovind, general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress, Bengaluru said in a press release.
Wistron management was not available for comments.
The company that makes iPhones for Apple in India, has proposed to invest Rs 2,900 crore in the 43 acre Narasapura facility and has set a target to provide over 15,000 jobs. Nearly half of the allotted land is occupied.
Two videos from the violence spot showed hundreds of employees vandalising assembly units, office space and cars parked in the premises, breaking window panes and shouting slogans against the employer.
The Kolar police lathicharged to disperse the crowd and many workers were hospitalised after they suffered injuries in the lathicharge.
A member of a trade union aware of developments told ET that the violence was a result of pent-up anger of workers. Majority of employees at the manufacturing unit were hired on contract by six contract agencies.
“Workers have been facing multiple issues over the last few months. Although they were promised a salary of Rs 16,000 per month, they were given just Rs 12,000. There was a three months delay in payment of salaries. The workers were also made to work overtime without being paid extra,” the union member said, adding that the company management had been refusing to give an audience to workers’ grievances.
“The industrial violence in Wistron is a direct result of the brutal exploitation of workers and sweatshop-like conditions created by a company, manufacturing the most expensive mobile phones. The state government has allowed the company to flout basic rights of the workers like payment of wages and working hours,” MD Harigovind, general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress, Bengaluru said in a press release.
Wistron management was not available for comments.
The company that makes iPhones for Apple in India, has proposed to invest Rs 2,900 crore in the 43 acre Narasapura facility and has set a target to provide over 15,000 jobs. Nearly half of the allotted land is occupied.
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2 Comments on this Story
 | Kali Prasad Chinam1 minute ago This type of contract employment should not have been allowed. Obviously there are loopholes in our Labour Laws. Hope this is not the case with other foreign companies. |
 | Devidas Telakat12 minutes ago The workers involved in vandalism should be sacked and made unemployable. Action should be taken to recover damages from all those responsible.Is this a way to defeat atmanirbharata? |