Labour unrest at tech factory

THE ransacking of an iPhone manufacturer in southern India could be the first of many “flashpoints” involving local workers in the supply chains of major brands, researchers said on Tuesday (15), pointing to a lack of rights and recourse under new labour laws.

Thousands of contract workers in Bengaluru gathered last Saturday (12) outside a factory owned by Taiwanese firm Wistron Corp to demand unpaid wages and better working hours.

As police arrived, the crowd turned violent and videos showed people smashing equipment and vandalising cars, causing up to $7.1 million (£5m) in damage according to an estimate by the company.

The All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) said the incident in the southern state of Karnataka was a result of workers being subjected to “extremely exploitative sweatshop-like working conditions in gross violation of labour laws”.

The workers earned far less than the promised ` 22,000 (£223) monthly salary and were not paid wages for November, according to the AICCTU, which said government officials and the management at Wistron had not responded to their complaints. “These workers are from very poor families and not getting their wages was pushing them to the brink,” said Clifton D Rosario, national secretary at the AICCTU.

Apple said on Monday (14) it was sending staff and auditors to the site and was cooperating with police. Wistron said in a regulatory filing it “always abides by the law, and fully supports and is cooperating with relevant authorities”.

A labour department official who requested anonymity said the issue was being resolved and workers would receive their dues. The factory would re-open soon, he added.