Greater Noida: Locals protest at Samsung unit, demand jobs

Under the banners of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the Kisan Sabha, as many as 100 activists staged a protest on Tuesday demanding employment to the local youth of the Gautam Budh Nagar district in the Samsung factory in Phase 2. However, the activists were not allowed to reach the factory by the police and as many as 80 persons were arrested.

“We have demanded that the local youth should be given jobs at factories set up in Noida and Greater Noida. Children of farmers whose lands have been acquired should also be given jobs. Multinational companies do not provide jobs to the local youth,” said Gangeshwar Dutt Sharma, a CITU representative.

“We also demand a minimum monthly wage of Rs 20,000. Till it is approved, we have demanded that workers should be paid wages on a with minimum wage at Delhi which is Rs 13,896. In Uttar Pradesh, the minimum wage is just Rs 7,600,” Sharma said.

“We have arrested the protesters for disruption of peace as they had held a protest without prior approval,” said Rajpal Tomar, the station house officer of Phase 2 police station.

Deputy Labour Commissioner PK Singh said, “Workers have the right to protest but it should be peaceful. We have forwarded the demand of minimum wages of Rs 20,000 and other demands to state and central governments.”

DEMAND FOR SURVIVAL

• Activists demanded employment for youth and children of farmers at factories set up in Noida and Greater Noida 
   
• Workers are demanding the minimum wage of Rs 13,896 until the government approves upgrading the same to Rs 20,000