News Brief
Foxconn To Resume Production In Chennai Plant, TN govt Directs Company To Upgrade Infra Facilities For Employees At Unit
- Production at the Foxconn plant near Chennai is expected to recommence in phases from Monday. The smartphone manufacturing plant was shut earlier this week following an incidents of workers unrest.
- The State Government has directed Taiwanese firm to enhance the basic infrastructure facilities provided to the employees like adequate accommodation and rest rooms, among others.
- According to the government, State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) is also engaged in the construction of hostels to accommodate 18,750 people at a cost of Rs 570 crore at Vallam Vadagal in Sriperumbudur.
Foxconn Facility
Taiwanese electronic parts manufacturer Foxconn would commence operations at its facility in neighbouring Sriperumbudur and it has been advised to enhance basic infrastructure facilities provided to the employees, the Tamil Nadu government said today (Dec 25).
Production at the Foxconn plant near Chennai is expected to recommence in phases from Monday. The smartphone manufacturing plant was shut earlier this week following an incidents of workers unrest.
In an official release on Saturday, the Tamil Nadu government said a meeting was conducted in which senior government officials including Labour Commissioner Atul Anand, Industries department Principal Secretary S Krishnan, Additional Director General Of Police - law and order, Thamaraikannan and representatives of the Foxconn Group participated.
During the meeting it was advised to the Taiwan-based firm to enhance the basic infrastructure facilities provided to the employees like adequate accommodation and rest rooms, among others.
''The hostels provided to the employees should have a quality certificate issued by the Collector and food should be prepared at the place of accommodation of the employees and it should be served to them on time,'' the release said.
The government also directed that those employees who seek leave be granted immediately and the company should utilise the services of manpower agencies on such occasions.
Representatives of Foxconn assured to implement the guidelines as directed by the government, the release said.
''The officials also assured of providing quality food to the over 15,000 employees and added they would commence production at the facility soon,'' the release said.
''The facility will be expanded and new jobs will be created at the unit,'' the release quoting the officials of Foxconn said.
The construction of the 11-storeyed building, spread across a 20- acre land was expected to be completed in 15 months, the release added.
Protest By Workers
A section of women workforce in Foxconn began a protest accusing the company officials of lack of transparency in disclosing whereabouts and health conditions of their colleagues who were recovering in hospital after a bout of food poisoning.
According to local authorities, there was an outbreak of acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD) among the Foxconn employees staying in the International Maritime Academy at Pudhuchathiram village in Tiruvallur district, after they consumed hostel food on December 15.
Over 250 workers were treated as outpatients and later 159 of them were admitted in the hospital. There were no deaths. Of the 159 patients, 155 were discharged on Saturday.
Spooked by a fake video posted on social media last Friday stating that nine workers workers had died of food poisoning, nearly 2,000 women workers of the company blocked the Chennnai-Bengaluru National Highway causing a disruption in the vehicular traffic for several hours.
(With inputs from PTI)
