Maruti suspends 16 more, fires 12 trainees

Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday suspended 16 more permanent workers and discontinued services of 12 trainees at Manesar plant, as tension between the management and workers continued, even as production resumed partially on the second day of the stand-off.

On Monday, the company had suspended 10 workers, dismissed five others and discontinued six trainees from services on charges of sabotage and causing quality problems in cars.

The company resumed operations partially at the facility with the help of supervisors and employees from Gurgaon plant, while 200 new workers will join the plant on contract in the next 2-3 days.

"Early this afternoon, the company commenced operations in areas like weld shop, press shop and paint shop ... The operations today were mostly focused in high automation areas of the plant ... Today, the operations relied mostly on the factory's supervisors," Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement.

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The Manesar plant has about 290 supervisors. In addition, around 50 diploma engineers from the company's Gurgaon plant were also deputed to resume operations, it added.

"The management had resolved to start manufacturing operation in the plant by today afternoon... In the last 30 hours since production came to a halt, the company's managers and engineers have been scouting for experienced and ITI trained manpower in the Manesar belt," the company said.

MSI management has already identified over 200 people, who are likely to join in the next 2-3 days on a contract basis, the statement said.

There was a stand-off between the management and workers at Manesar plant  after the company yesterday prevented workers from entering the factory without signing a 'good conduct' bond following alleged "sabotage" resulting in quality issues that arose last week.

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With vehicle production being affected for the second day, MSI has suffered an estimated production loss of about 2,400 units, valued at around Rs 120 crore (Rs 1.2 billion).

The workers, however, said the management was taking these steps in 'revenge' for their 13-day strike in June demanding the recognition of a new union, the Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU), at the plant located in Haryana.

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Alleging sabotage by some workers, the company management decided to enforce a 'Good Conduct Bond' for the workers, which seeks an assurance that they will not resort to go slow measures, sabotage production or indulge in activities that will hamper normal production at the plant.

Taking an aggressive stance, the management is understood to have decided to move all non-automated production work from the plant to its Gurgaon unit till the time the workers agreed to sign the bond.

Over 22 regular workers at the plant have signed the bond so far. While casual workers have been asked to report to their respective contractors, apprentices at the plant have been given leave till September 1.

The plant, which produces models such as Swift, DZiRE and SX4, has a total of about 2,500 workers, of which 950 are regular employees.