Indian trade unions say they are fearful Maruti Suzuki may dismiss up to 400 workers at its Manesar plant following the recent arson attack that left one senior manager dead and a hundred people hospitalised.
The Manesar plant some 30km from Delhi remains shut following the violence that saw a mob smash and burn large portions of the factory with motives still largely unclear.
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However, the powerful All India Trades Union Congress (AITUC) maintains when the plant reopens hundreds of workers may be sacked – an situation that has not been confirmed by Maruti who were consistently not answering telephone calls today (2 August).
“There is apprehension management may terminate and dismiss 300-400 workers,” AITUC national secretary, Darshan Sachdev, told just-auto from India. “There are indications…they will not take back the workers who have indulged in that violence.
“Those who have been charged – of course they may keep out but others – they should take in. Further observations [are] we have heard they will not keep contract workers in the core activities.”
The AITUC national secretary added 11 leaders from the Maruti Suzuki workers union who had “gone underground” had been arrested with Indian police likely to ask they be remanded.
It appears many of the Manesar contract workforce that remains at home as the lock-out continues, are not being paid, a situation deplored by the AITUC, which claims staff have now gone more than two weeks without wages.
“Those workers of course, they have not been paid for 18 days,” said Sachdev. “They should be paid whatever wage they have earned – there should be a strategic compulsion to pay those wages.”
The AITUC added up to 35 unions mainly involved in the automotive industry in the Gurgaon industrial belt are due to meet this Saturday (4 August) to discuss the Manesar lock-out.
“They are independent unions and have a joint forum,” said Sachdev. “They may have demonstrations – that will be the first step – further on they may have tool-down strike – most of those unions are in the automobile sector.”
Maruti Suzuki did not answer repeated telephone calls to India today.
