Renault-Nissan workers in India go on strike today due to company's failure on COVID safety demands

Renault-Nissan's workers at its car plant in Tamil Nadu, southern India will go on strike today for the failure of the company to meet their COVID-related safety demands.

The strike threat comes ahead of a court hearing over workers' allegations that social distancing norms were being flouted and factory health policies did not sufficiently address the risk to lives.

The union, which represents around 3,500 workers at the plant, added they would not return until they felt safe.

Nissan, which owns a majority stake in the plant, declined to comment, saying the matter was in court.

Renault-Nissan rejected workers' allegations before an Indian court last week, adding it needed to continue production to meet orders.

Tamil Nadu, an auto hub known as India's Detroit, has over 30,000 COVID-19 cases a day.

The state is under a lockdown until May 31 but some factories, including auto plants, continue to operate.