Chennai, Sep 3 (IANS): Nokia India workers hope the new owners of Nokia (Microsoft) continue to maintain cordial relationship with them and do not jeopardise their jobs, said a senior union official.

Surprised at the news of Microsoft buying Nokia's mobile and services division, P. Suresh, treasurer at Nokia India Thozhilalar Sangam, told IANS: "We came to know about the development only today (Tuesday). We enjoy good rapport with the Nokia management. We hope the same kind of relationship will continue with the new owners."

"We hope no adverse development takes place regarding workers," Suresh added.

According to him, Nokia India has over 7,000 workers (permanent 4,600, trainees 1,000 and contract 1,550) at its plant near here, one of its largest production facilities in the world.

M. Shanmugam, general secretary of the Labour Progressive Front affiliated to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, told IANS: "Microsoft should now convert many temporary jobs into permanent ones. The new owner should give a guarantee that no worker would lose his job because of the ownership change."

Finnish company Nokia announced it had signed an agreement with Microsoft to sell its devices and services business and licence its patents to the latter for 5.44 billion euros.

It will also be interesting to watch the progress of the income tax department's around Rs.2,100-crore tax demand raised on Nokia India for evading tax on royalty payment to its parent company.