09 Thursday Jul 2015
Posted in WORLD NEWS
Microsoft, one of the biggest software company, in the world is planning to retrench more employees after its earlier decision to retrench 18,000 employees last year. Another MNC, Nokia, has also similar plans. In a world of increasing unemployment, the job cuts and retrenchment will make the situation worse. (Based on a report in Business Line)
19 Sunday Oct 2014
Posted in TU News, TU News - India
Nokia, one of the top manufacturers of mobile phones, has decided to close its factory at Chennai, which will cause loss of jobs of about twenty five thousand workers of the factory.
We demand the government either to compel the management of Nokia to continue the production or the government itself should take over the factory and run the same so that the livelihood of the workers can be protected. The trade unions in the factory including CITU has already raised this reasonable demand.
Immediate action is required.
18 Wednesday Jun 2014
Tags
Instead of continuing with strong measures to collect the tax arrears coming to about Rs. 14,000 crore from major telecom company Vodafone, the NDA Government is becoming soft. It has now appointed a negotiator, former Supreme Court Chief Justice R.C.Lahoti to deal with the issue.
It is reported that there are similar other tax arrears, which in total, would come to about Rs. 27,000 crore, including that of Nokia, Oyj etc. All these also will go to the negotiator for settlement.
The BJP spokesmen have already indicated that the retrospective tax practice would retard the confidence of the foreign investors, which is a clear indication that the new government at the centre is prepared to adjust the tax arrears. Such a decision will result in heavy loss to the exchequer and windfall profit to the private MNCs. The government should, instead, be firm in collecting the due tax arrears.
12 Thursday Dec 2013
Posted in General
The corporates are chameleons. They change their opinions completely when it suits them.
Take the example of the tax arrears of Vodafone, Nokia etc. to be paid to the government. These companies go to arbitration, court etc. for getting the tax due cancelled or at least reduced. And the government is sympathetically hearing them.
Now the Competition Commission of India has levied a fine of Rs. 1,773 crore on Coal India Limited for ‘abusing’ its dominant position in the market. Nothing of corruption or tax-evading.But the corporates, media controlled by them, are shouting together that CIL should pay the penalty and not to go to the legal remedy.
Why this double talk? The only reason is that Vodafone, Nokia etc. are MNCs and private companies. They should not be ‘harassed’ by tax etc. But Coal India Ltd. is a PSU.Hence it should obey all rules and should pay the penalty without any opposition!
10 Tuesday Dec 2013
Posted in General
Tags
The following case is a classic example of how the MNCs are dealing with the due tax to be paid by the to the Government of India.
The Income Tax Department has given notice to the mobile equipment manufacturing company NOKIA for an Income Tax of rs. 21,153 crores. The MNC has refused to pay stating that there is no tax to be paid and it will fight in the court. The company also stated that they are willing to close the case by paying a meagre amount of Rs. 3,000 crores, if the government agrees. Rs. 3,000 crore instead of Rs.21,153 crores!
A similar case is pending with Vodafone. It is to pay a tax of more than 12,000 crores. instead of paying it had gone to the court. The Finance Minister stated that negotiation can take place in the matter. In the same was negotiation may take with Nokia also.There is nothing wrong with negotiation. But what will happen with the UPA-II government is well known. The government will bends its knee before the MNCs and accept what they offer.
One the one side, the precious natural resources are sold to the corporates and MNCs for far less than their value and on the other hand even the due tax are not collected from them. It is not surprising that the Congress had to face ignominious defeat in the recent state assembly elections.
10 Tuesday Dec 2013
Posted in General
Tags
The following case is a classic example of how the MNCs are dealing with the due tax to be paid by the to the Government of India.
The Income Tax Department has given notice to the mobile equipment manufacturing company NOKIA for an Income Tax of rs. 21,153 crores. The MNC has refused to pay stating that there is no tax to be paid and it will fight in the court. The company also stated that they are willing to close the case by paying a meagre amount of Rs. 3,000 crores, if the government agrees. Rs. 3,000 crore instead of Rs.21,153 crores!
A similar case is pending with Vodafone. It is to pay a tax of more than 12,000 crores. instead of paying it had gone to the court. The Finance Minister stated that negotiation can take place in the matter. In the same was negotiation may take with Nokia also.There is nothing wrong with negotiation. But what will happen with the UPA-II government is well known. The government will bends its knee before the MNCs and accept what they offer.
One the one side, the precious natural resources are sold to the corporates and MNCs for far less than their value and on the other hand even the due tax are not collected from them. It is not surprising that the Congress had to face ignominious defeat in the recent state assembly elections.
22 Saturday Jun 2013
Posted in Telecom
The workers in the Nokia Siemens Network at Chennai are on strike since 7th June, demanding recognition of union, reinstatement of victimized workers, wage revision etc. The Union is affiliated to CITU and its 72 workers stand suspended.
My support to the striking workers and demand the management to resolve the issues through discussion with the union.
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