Maruti Suzuki could sack 500 contract workers soon

The rift between Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) workers and management is set to widen further. With the Manesar plant opening on Tuesday, the management is planning to sack 500 more workers in connection with July 18 violence at the facility.

In the second round of sacking, contract workers will lose their jobs.

"The management has sacked 500 workers and after the inquiry, the company found 500 more workers guilty in connection with the violence. They will be given pink slips soon," a senior management executive told MAIL TODAY.

Prior to the ghastly violence, which claimed the life of one human resources manager, the plant had employee strength of 3,300, of which 1,528 were permanent workers.



Workers at the Manesar and Gurgaon plants, who were already protesting the initial 500 sackings , are furious.

"We have heard they are going to give 500 more pink slips. This is a plan of the company to downsize the staff. If more workers are sacked, the Gurgaon workers' union (Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union) will join the protest. What is the basis of their inquiry? We want an independent probe," a workers' union member at the Gurgaon told MAIL TODAY.

Representatives of both the unions are planning to meet the management on Wednesday with a new agenda, which includes the demand for reinstating the 500 sacked workers.

Major central trade unions, including CPI-affiliated All India Trade Union Congress and CPI(M)-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions will meet on Tuesday to finalise a rally in the national Capital demanding reinstatement of the sacked workers.

The management, which has toughened its stand, is not willing to reinstate the sacked workers. To increase the workforce, the company will start recruiting permanent workers from September 2 and current contract workers will also be considered for the same.

"We are not downsizing the staff. The company will start recruitment from September 2 and reach the original strength of the workforce. But this time we do not want any troublemakers," the company administration added.

R. C. Bhargava, chairman, MSIL, had last week said: "On the production line, we would not have contract labourers, but for the short-term and flexibility, we may have about 20 per cent contract labourers. But they will be absorbed in due course of time."

The decision of the company to fire the 500 regular workers has evoked strong reactions from trade unions across political spectrum.

MSIL will resume operations at the Manesar plant with only 300 permanent workers under heavy police presence. It has also formed its own force comprising ex-service men.

"According to the schedule, we are starting our operations at the Manesar plant initially with 300 staff in a single shift," a company spokesperson said.

The number is almost one-tenth of its original strength. Initially, the workers will operate in a single shift - 8 am to 4.30 pm - for the first seven days and gradually the number of working hours will be increased.

About 150 cars will be rolled out daily initially instead of 1,500-1,700 units earlier. Production will be gradually ramped up at the plant, which has an annual capacity of 5.5 lakh units.

Courtesy: Mail Today