Nokia supplier Foxconn forces ‘holiday’; staff sniff conspiracy

Ahead of a proposed suspension of production from Foxconn's plant here from December 24, employees union on Monday said they were not allowed to enter the facility as the company has declared holiday till Tuesday.

Company security personnel prevented workers from entering the premises, representatives of Foxconn India Thozhilalargal Sangam (Foxconn India Employees Union) said.

The company had declared a holiday on Monday and Wednesday ahead of its proposed suspension of operations from December 24 and this agitated the employees, they said. Meanwhile, the third round of talks between the Union and management, which was scheduled for December 26, was advanced on Monday and was underway at the Labour Commissioner’s office at Sriperumbudur, Foxconn India Thozhilalargal Sangam President and MLA A Sounderrajan said.

The previous two rounds of tripartite talks between the management, Union and State labour department to find an amicable solution were "inconclusive".

"It was accepted that till the third round of talks, there has to be status quo of the plant which means employees should be given jobs till that day. But management stopped providing transport services, food and it has said it will not allow the employees to enter," he told reporters.

"That is why we are meeting Labour department officials, today", he said.

According to him, the company has announced that it would pay the salaries for the employees even for December though it would suspend production at the facility.

Foxconn India has two manufacturing facilities at Sriperumbudur which began operations in 2006.