Striking Ford India workers' only hope: Tamil Nadu govt will save jobs

The closure of the Ford factory at Maraimala Nagar will affect a total of around 40,000 jobs in total because the factory jobs are linked to many ancillary units which employ unorganised workers

An unhappy, restive mood prevails at the Ford factory Maraimala Nagar, 50 km from Chennai, and the surrounding area. The security is tight — not just Ford security personnel but also Tamil Nadu state police who are posted at the main gate.

A protest by workers is now in its second week. From September 9, when Ford India announced it was phasing out its units in India and leaving, workers at its manufacturing unit at Maraimala Nagar have held onto one hope: that the state government will step in to save their jobs.

That is what happened to Ford’s vehicle