Production was affected for the sixth day in succession at Maruti Suzuki India Limited's Manesar unit amid contradicting claims by the management and workers on car production and the infusion of external workers at the plant.
MSIL said in a statement on Saturday that with 800 workers on board, a total of 150 cars were produced on the day. The corresponding number of cars produced was 125 on Friday, 100 on Thursday, and 60 on Wednesday, indicating a steady but slow ramp-up of production at Manesar, but nowhere near the normal production capacity of 1,200 cars daily.
“The company brought in another batch of 125 Industrial Training Institute-trained and experienced people on Saturday. This takes the current strength now available for production to 800. With weld operations in Plant B in place now, and 800 trained and experienced people available, Maruti Suzuki has produced 150 cars…The company will continue to scout for more trained workers in coming days,” an MSIL statement said.
However, workers sitting on dharna outside the plant and objecting to the Good Conduct Bond that the management insists they sign before joining duty, said they were “eager” to resume work, but would not sign the bond.
Maruti Suzuki Employees Union executive member Sunil Dutt reiterated the workers' earlier statements that no production was going on at the Manesar unit and that no workers from outside had been brought in to ramp up production. Mr. Dutt claimed that office-bearers of the Guraon-based Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union came to meet the Manesar workers on Saturday and assured them that they will raise the workers' issues with the management on September 5.
