Not satisfied with severance pay, Foxconn ex-staff want their jobs back

Taiwanese electronics maker Foxconn is facing a tough time in Tamil Nadu, where it had closed its unit over a quarter ago. Around 490 of its ex-workers, who already received severance pay and benefits in February, want their jobs back.

The disgruntled former employees filed a petition with the assistant labour commissioner of Sriperambudur district over a month ago. There have since been four conciliation meetings.

Foxconn, which recently announced plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh, has submitted it is legally not tenable to raise disputes after a formal settlement was worked out.

"A settlement for severance was concluded with employee representatives on February 12, 2015," Foxconn earlier said in a statement.

According to people familiar with the mater, an average sum of Rs 3.26 lakh was fixed as compensation. While many of the company's 1,306 employees accepted the money electronically sent to their salary accounts, hundreds had stuck to their demand for re-employment.

"We still have hope as the Centre is said to be taking steps to revive the Nokia factory. If a phone manufacturer enters Nokia SEZ, there are chances Foxconn might come back," said S Kannan, a trade unionist with CITU, which is supporting the former Foxconn employees.

K Rajini, who heads Foxconn India Employees Union, said there was pressure from banks to get salary accounts converted into personal accounts after Foxconn completed severance procedures.

(Image: Reuters)