Negotiations between Foxconn India and its unions on suspending operations at the factory remained inconclusive today.

The livelihood of over 1,300 workers is in question as the multinational, cell phone components manufacturer has said that it will suspend operations at its factory at Sriperumbudur near Chennai as there were no orders after its main customer Nokia India shut down operations at its unit here.

Foxconn said that it will declare leave but continue to pay its workers for now. In the talks mediated by State government labour department officials, Foxconn management representatives insisted that the factory cannot provide work beyond the weekend. The company will declare a holiday and decide on further course of action.

‘Find alternative options’

Trade union leaders from Centre of Indian Trade Unions and the Labour Progressive Federation representing Foxconn employees expressed concern that declaring leave is a prelude to shutting down the unit. Find alternative options to keep the factory going they argued.

A Soundararajan, State General Secretary of the CITU, said Foxconn has a global presence and employs over two lakh workers across 85 countries. The management has to explore alternative lines of work. Shutting down the unit is not an option, the union has also represented the issue to the state government, he said.

CVMP Ezhilarasan, LPF representative, said the government was sympathetic to the condition of the workers. The union is against declaring a holiday at the unit since “it is as good as closure” of the factory. The management has said that it will not be able to provide work from Monday but will ask the workers to go on “leave with salary for a short time.” There is no clarity regarding the plans for the future.

Workers said that they will not allow the unit to close but will report for work daily even if the management keeps doors closed. It is up to the company management to give work for them.

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