Senior executives from Korean electronics giant Samsung met with Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries TRB Rajaa on Sunday to discuss quickly settling the ongoing labor strike at their factory. Chief Minister M K Stalin directed three of his ministers to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

Since September 9, about 1,100 of the 1,750 employees at the factory in Sriperumbudur, close here, have been on strike, demanding different demands including as pay increases and better working conditions. They also demand that the Samsung India Workers' Union, which is supported by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), be registered by the state government.

Stalin on Saturday directed three state ministers, including Rajaa, T M Anbarasan (MSME), and C V Ganesan (Labour Welfare and Skill Development), to hold talks with management and employees in order to end the strike as soon as possible. "On the suggestion of Chief Minister M K Stalin, I met with Samsung's management today and discussed how to quickly resolve disputed issues. The chief minister has also asked the Minister for MSME, T M Anbarasan, and myself to work alongside the Minister of Labour, C V Ganesan, to achieve a swift and positive settlement," Rajaa said in a social media post on Sunday.

"We are confident that Samsung's management and their employees will come together and arrive at an amicable solution that benefits everyone involved," Rajaa told reporters. Scores of Left party cadres, including state leaders, were jailed on October 5 for holding a rally without police permission to show solidarity with the agitating workers near the factory. Responding to the walkout, Samsung India stated that company was committed to resolving issues such as pay, benefits, and working conditions through direct negotiations with the workforce. Samsung makes consumer durables at the plant, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions.

"At Samsung India, employee welfare is our primary focus. We would like to underline that we follow all of the country's rules and regulations," the firm representative stated. "We are committed to resolving all issues, including wages, benefits, and working conditions, through direct negotiations with our employees." We have now been able to resume normal manufacturing at our Chennai factory. We have taken steps to guarantee that our customers are not disrupted over the holiday season. We again urge the strikers to return to work," the spokeswoman said.