Maruti's Manesar Plant: Manpower Goes Up; Strike Continues
Thursday, 20 October 2011, 17:48 IST
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Bangalore: Maruti Suzuki India today said the number of workers on duty at its Manesar plant has gone up to 600, while talks brokered by the Haryana government between the management and striking employees are on to bring a solution to the 13-day impasse. "Production at the company's Manesar plant was 200 cars. The number of workers at Manesar also went up to 600 today from 400 yesterday," the company said in a statement. A Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) spokesperson claimed these are workers who did not join the strike. At the Gurgaon plant, the company produced 1,650 vehicles today, it added. MSI had to suspend production at Gurgaon plant for two days last week due to non-availability of the components from Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd (SPIL), where workers are also on strike in support of colleagues at MSI. SPIL supplies diesel engines and transmissions to MSI. "In all, Maruti Suzuki manufactured 300 Swift cars today, combined from Gurgaon and Manesar plants," it said. The company said talks resumed this morning between the management and workers in the presence of Haryana labour department officials after it broke down yesterday. "Talks between the company management and the striking workers were revived today. These talks are being facilitated by the Haryana government," the company said. Talks are still going on at the time of filing this report. Workers are on strike demanding reinstatement of about 1,200 casual workers. They are also demanding that all 44 permanent workers who were suspended after a settlement on October 1 to end a 33-day-long standoff be taken back, along with those who have been fired during the ongoing protest. Workers at SPIL and Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) have also been on strike from October 7 in support of their colleagues at MSI. Yesterday, MSI had admitted that the company needs to learn how to deal with a young workforce as it grapples with frequent labour issues at its Manesar plant. Meanwhile, shares of the company closed 1.23% up at Rs 1,065.50 apiece on the BSE.
Source: PTI