Nokia is still caught up in a tax dispute in India, but the company has begun offering a voluntary retirement package to workers at a factory which was seized by a local tax office last year. The plant at Chennai has around 6,600 full-time employees, all of which are eligible for the retirement package. Nokia had originally planned to transfer the plant to Microsoft as part of the deal going ahead, but the situation has been complicated by Indian officials challenging Nokia.
The company said in a statement, "as a responsible employer, Nokia is offering a clear financial option for interested factory employees." The plant has experienced arranged hunger strikes by employees in attempts to draw the attention of Indian government to what's occurring with this tricky situation. Nokia has at least offered some light at the end of the tunnel.
It's a major blow as the Cennai plant was a key manufacturing asset, which has left the company with little choice but to move operations elsewhere.
Source: Reuters
