Nokia India Employees Union Seeks Tamil Nadu CM's Intervention

Nokia India employees have sought Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's intervention to resolve labour issues at the handset maker's factory in Chennai, requesting the state government to take a "firm stand" in ensuring their job security.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Nokia India Employees Union (Nokia India Thozhilalargal Sangam) Honorary President A Soundararajan said the Voluntary Retirement Scheme offered by the company should be "withdrawn", and the jobs shifted to other manufacturing units be brought back to the Chennai plant, among the biggest of the Finland-based company.

"The plant has been operating at Sriperumbudur near Chennai since 2005 and enjoying several benefits offered by the state government since then. However, without intimating the labourers, the State or Central government, the company was sold to Microsoft," said Soundararajan, who is also a sitting MLA.

The company had on April 10 announced VRS, of which 1,550 workers, including 700 trainees and 850 team leaders were "forcefully" asked to accept and left the company, he claimed.

"If this situation continues, around 20,000 employees working at the Nokia Special Economic Zone and depending on Nokia India factory (in Sriperumbudur) are in danger of losing jobs. Nokia India has betrayed the employees and the Government," he said.

The average age of an employee in the factory is 25 years and 10,000 people (involved directly and indirectly) with the company comprise of women employees, he said, adding that the factory and employees may be considered to come under the Nokia-Microsoft agreement.