There can be no two ways of looking at the horrific violence unleashed by workers at the Manesar plant of Maruti Suzuki that resulted in the death of a manager of the company. It was ghastly and shocking and deserves to be condemned in unequivocal terms. Nothing can justify the brutal murder. It is disturbing to read reports that the manager burned to death because his legs were fractured by some workers and he could not escape the fire set off by them. Indeed, the violence of the mob was so ghastly that 33 managers are still in hospital nursing injuries inflicted on them. The police have arrested 91 workers who allegedly participated in the violence. Those found guilty should be dealt with sternly and held to account especially considering that worker violence has become all too frequent in recent times in the Gurgaon-Manesar belt that houses many automobile and ancillary companies. Indeed, in this context one needs to ask if the sad events at Maruti’s plant could have been avoided if the Haryana government had been proactive. It is clear that the labour in this region, working for different employers, is restive for varied reasons and has been so for more than the last couple of years.
While condemning the violence unleashed by the workers, it is important to find out why they reacted in such an extreme way. Maruti’s Manesar plant workers and management have been in an uneasy relationship for over a year now. The plant witnessed labour protests for more than four months last year, culminating in a 33-day lockout following a dispute over employment of contract labour, wages, the creation of a new union and speed-ups. The truce since then was an uneasy one as borne out by the unfortunate events of last week. Across Indian industry, the traditional management-labour face-off has acquired a new edge in recent times as companies grappling with a complex business environment do their utmost to rein in costs, including wages. Workers have been frustrated and this has to be seen in the context of the consumer culture that has taken hold of the country. The attempt by some companies, especially multinationals, to discourage unionisation has added to the volatility of industrial relations, and their preferred tactic is to employ workers on contract so as to have a hold over them. Apart from the Gurgaon-Manesar belt, there have been problems in other parts of the country, notably the Sriperumbudur industrial corridor near Chennai, Bangalore and Pune. Apex industry bodies such as business chambers, labour unions and the government need to put their heads together to assess what is undoubtedly a disturbing trend and examine ways to reverse this trend.
My friend Dinesh your policies has been applied in Soviet union.Do you
know the reason why Soviet union disintegrated because they don't
produce enough food.It's not because they lacked farmers or farmland
and the farmers didn't went on a strike.The farmers pay was
independent of what they produced or not.We are a poor country not
because people don't make money,but because we don't produce
enough.But the policies you suggest are still being followed in North
Korea and Cuba if these are the countries to be followed i will
support u whole heartedly.Another example was the BSNL workers who
enjoyed higher pay and benefits before the year 2000 and when the
Telecom sector was privatized the workers in the priv sector were
payed a fraction of the pay of BSNL employees with no benifits.Yet
they offered their best service at the cheapest price. Now all the
private carriers employ more people than BSNl and their customers vary
from beggars to crorepatis.That's what i call the creation of wealth
My dear friend Dinesh have u read the comment exactly as i have
written and do u know the history correctly. The British forced the
farmers of this country to produce a certain thing for their
exports.So that was a slavery. That is the reason we have fought the
british. I don't want the indian govt do the samething.The law of the
land is certainly constitution and one of the fundamental duties of
the Judiciary is to enforce contract.I have the contract nust be
volunaty. If maruti agreed to pay its worker for certain amount of
work a certain amount of money and they don't pay it. The worker has a
right to goto the court and get the compensation for his work, as well
as the for the hardship company has caused him,his expenditure for
legal work,and also for the time he time he lost during the legal
process.As far as the up and down trend is concerned,it is not caused
by capitalism but by money supply and contraction(i.e, inflation).
I was GET and joined Company in Baroda. I have just stayed 28 days in
company. In front of my eyes two workers died due to carbon monoxide
due to complete of management staff. The shocking thing for me was my
immediate manager was the person to cover-up the whole incident and
manage police and all. Both management and police managed the entire
episode in such as way that there was no real investigations. The life
of worker is cheap and managers are not is the rule in India.
Government, Police, Media and Intellectuals all supports this
Hippocratic system. We all professionally qualified people has to
learn to value life of less qualified people and society will be
better. Worker unions should be handled with display of human values
than politics.
Maruti loosing Rs 80 crore a day. I think it is pragmatic plan that
get qualified worker only on contracting position with 10 lacs per
annum salary. For 3000 workers it will cost only 300 crores per annum
which is equivalent of 4.5 days shutdown due to issue. It is
guaranteed that there will be zero downtime and no single worker will
support even small disturbance. It is profitable proposal for company
and rewarding contract for workers. No social ills and no crime. All
will prosper in very conducive environment. Govt should amend the
acts to facilitate such rewarding contracting employment. At the end
of the day economy and reward matters for people.
And it has to listen to poor also.Hire and Fire at will? Destroy a
family at will, you want to place such powers in hand of man, those
are out with profit motive at any cost.For formality, adding social
security? Who will provide? For this basic reason, they are employing
contract labour, so that they need not to pay for this.People are
better educated and understand, these designs now.So my dears, India
is ours not of MNCs.These same MNCs can not do same thing their
country of origin.What is free capitalism is doing? It's for everybody
to see, what is happening in Europe.Capitalist can't be given free
hand to destroy our social fabric.Lifting poor out of abject poverty
or exploiting their poverty.
Mr Jitendra and Satish, do you both know ABC of constitution.Human
beings are not tools, use and throw.The up and down trend are inherent
to capitalism, if you know little economics, it will help. So, you
want MNC like Maruti should use and exploit hunger at will, after all
a labor is never on equal platform of bargain.Precisely, for this
reason, their are labour laws to protect unsuspecting worker against
predatory forces.What do mean by law enforcement? Against only
workers? Haryana labour department filed a challan against Maruti for
not honouring it's commitment to workers.Paying 7000 rupees, because
you can circumvent law by employing contract workers.Contract should
be between a weak worker and powerful management.And government should
enforce this unjust contract by might of law. What nonsense? Do you
know little history of india? A bit about Indigo production by British
planters by using unfair contract. Are you advocating same practice?
No my dear, today government is our own
I think unions are a must in any industry.With out unions,what ever the
industrial climate the management will try to exploit employees,cut
wages,while increasing wages and benefit for top management.
As Hindu pointed there were issues in Maruti since last two years.This
was main because of mis-management at Maruti.Instead of addressing the
issue they tried to suppress employees last time.
The outcome of the recent violent events at Manesar was indeed
unfortunate. It is shocking to note that what started as an exchange
of words between a worker & a manager has resulted in a brutal
incident of such a massive proportion. While one can completely
justify the management's stand to close down the plant in view of
safety of its employees, it is true that the workers will be the
losers to a greater extent. In the light of a growing economy, justice
to all sections & classes of the society is a must with due
consideration to the wage class, who are the worst hit due to growing
inflation. I completely agree with Tofik on his views regarding
unionization & that it must be done away with. I myself have worked in
a PSU where i have been a witness to the unimaginable corruption that
the union leaders resort to without any genuine concerns for the
people forming part of the union. With changing times a better model
for interaction between the management & workers needs to be evolved.
@Those who complain about contract labor practice or lax labor laws: Companies have resorted to hiring contract labor instead of permanent employees because of the lopsided labor laws that makes laying off permanent employees to account for changing business environment. In fact draconian labor laws prevent small industries to grow in terms of hiring more employees because owners are afraid of the onerous labor laws that they have to adhere once the number of employees exceed a certain thresh hold. with such antiquated labor laws India has little hope to create jobs or sustain the economic growth needed to lift the masses from abject poverty. No farming is not the solution for job growth as the cultivable land is fixed and per capita land for farming families grow smaller as the farmers procreate. India needs to revise its labor laws to make hiring and laying off easier while ensuring an adequate social security safety net for the retrenched workers.
The reason Maruti pays its workers low wages is to provide their
customers the automobiles at cheaper rates. Otherwise Maruti will be out
of business.
The govt does not have a duty to judge the morality of the people or
industries or corporations and declare certain people as immoral and
take away their money by use of legal force. The govt duty is to
enforce law of the land i.e, the Constitution. Maruti should close its
plant in Manesar and should probably open it in Gujarat. The Contracts
between the wokers and the management should be voluntary nobody
should force their will on others.If the management feels they are
overpaying their workers then they should be able to fire them. In the
sameway if the workers think they are getting underpaid they should be
able to resign and walkaway from the job. The management should not
have the power to stop them from leaving. Workers forming a union does
not mean they have more legal powers than a individual worker,like
commiting a murder or anything else.They just have a collective
bargaining power with the management.
Clearly, we need accept that this incident marks the beginning of the class conflicts, having its roots in our lax approach to legitimate labour issues, at the expense of profit and efficient industrial growth. Indeed violence in any form needs to be condemned but the question is on whether we as society will condemn the slow death to dignity of the workers which we have legitimised and accepted by way of lax labour laws or rather by a lack of such laws??
The events at the Suzuki plant is unfortunate, however we should think as to what is the real cause of the problem. The real problem is that the management does not want a union in the plant.Why? because union will demand better wages and good working conditions which the company does not want to provide.These MNCs come to India due to cheap labour and employ unfair labour practices depriving the workers their right full share.They treat Indian workers just as cogs in the machine,abuse them,ask them to work like dogs,supervise their every motion on the shop floor and pay them almost half that that of regular workers., The management which do not follow the law of the land has no right to speak of law and justice.They speak of life time employment in their country but here they employ contract workers ,what a philosophy!If workers will be treated as dogs this is what u will get in return,this the time to wake up.ILO convention says right to organise is a fundamental right no one can take away.
While condemning the violence, one must be careful what conclusions one is
drawing. Unionisation is now out of control but look at the problem. Companies all
over the world are resorting to hiring workers on contract basis instead of as full
employees, thereby denying them security and various benefits.
This is not owing to some specially difficult economic climate but merely because
MNCs have found out that this is the way to boost their margins further and they
do it even if business is roaring. After all, the people that take these decisions also
skim off this extra profit into their own pockets. The middle and line managers
that are left to die at the hands of the mob have had little to do with these
decisions.
The only way around is for the state to guarantee workers' rights and enforcing the
rule of law, i.e. MNCs cheating here to be held accountable and workers to be
forced to comply with their contract and not resort to violence.
Can we do that? I doubt it.
There is quite a high possibility that the actual culprit behind these attacks could be some third party who is trying to spiral the situation in their favor as suggested by some recent reports of a likely Naxal involvement. As a matter of fact, if the plant shuts down permanently or even closes for some temporary period, the biggest sufferer would be the labour and the poor people of this region for whom Maruti Plant is the only source of income. So considering the importance of this plant for them, it further emboldens this argument.
While arguing for unionization, as a means to ward off any exploitation
from the employer-end, one has to take note of the fact that even Public
Sector companies have now started hiring laborers on contract mode. I
remember my friend working in a PSU telling me about the negligence of
permanent laborers while doing their work. Much worse is the cushion
these workers have because of the backing of the unions. Certainly, the
flip-side of unions must also be adequately looked into.
Is it really a incident or planned murder ? What went that wrong ? Why
Awanish Dev(GM HR) try to resign from his position 6 month back, sensing
such violence in future? Even though the Maruti workers are paid better
in the automobile industry. Why so called,under-paid , workers of other
automobile companies not protesting for wages?
There are lot more question to be answered first before proceeding the
negotiation with the Trade Union. Indeed this is "INHUMAN" act.
Death of a Manager at Manesar Plant manifests that relation of upper
echelons with proletarians were not good and the chasm between them is
waxing. So it behooves all business tycoons to behave affably with these
kind of workers.
The loss of life due to the clash between the labourers and the management is
disturbing.Strict action should be taken aginsts those who have caused the
situation to go out of hand.
Government should intervene in this matter by amending the company law and other legislations.A mandatory obligation on part of private
industrial business to create Employee associations in tune with those existing in PSUs.Hope this institutional channel would provide a safety valve to address the grievances and reinforce the spirit of participative management.
In times of inflation, paying fixed amount, without compensating for
inflation is highly unjust.Every petty economist can tell that
inflation enriches capitalist and real wages for workers go down.These same MNCs' don't dare to do same thing in their own country.Their is need of balance between profits for investors and wages for labor.The whole capitalist media is crying, FDI and investors will be scared away.For them, poor workers don't count a bit.Are they want to come in India because they can exploit hunger of indians easily which is not possible in their own country and in this project our indian fellows are facilitating exploitation of their own countryman for their selfish aims.This country suffered due to such fellows for countless
centuries.Invited invaders, sided with them at crucial times for their
petty gains at the cost of nation.Now terms are changed but ultimately
the weak and poor of this country suffering at their hand, in economic
colonisation.(co-opt some locals)
Violence need to be condemned in strongest terms but their is a need
to scratch the surface.People are shedding crocodile tears for
unfortunate turn of events and blaming Workers for all the ills for
whatever happened.Human resources are not mechanical resources like
other resources, they are human beings with emotions. Humiliation and
indignities, people can take them for some time, not indefinitely,
even if it threatens their livelihood. It is certain, those indulged
in violence can't think of work again with Maruti. Every nook and
corner of factory is monitored by cameras and will be easily
identified.But what about management's responsibility? Why things
reached to such an impasse that people burst. Unfortunately, this will
create more difficulties for workers for forming unions and asking for
their genuine demands.People are saying, they are better paid.Did it
mean adequately paid? In times of inflation, paying a fixed amount
without compensation for inflation .
While this editorial does strive to be balanced, it would have been
better if it mentioned the immediate cause of the violence, the issue
of Jiya Lal. We are still unclear on who he was, what he did, etc.
Please publish the details.
Absolutely nothing justifies the violence and the murder.. Excellent move by the management to lock the plant.. Hope the workers learn their lesson and are not misled by such terrorist union leaders ever again. Maruti-Suzuki should consider moving to Gujarat or Tamilnadu. The present administration in these states will ensure that terrorists are put down with an iron hand.
I appreciate this editorial that looks at the issue both in terms of condemning the violence meted against the management as well as in terms of the plight of workers which is caused by several factors including the indifferent and greedy attitudes of business managements. I strongly believe that the well-being of profit-oriented business management and the working masses who have to work hard for just to survive are interrelated, and one may not exist without the other, however limited it is! @Tofik: I agree with you on the question of unionisation, but the pity is that the workers have to live at the 'mercy' of either the greedy companies or the exploiting unions. Is there a third way?!
The hiring of contract labours at low wages with penury benefits, and retrenching them in the last week of their probation and re recruiting them again as contract labours as been a in-human practice followed by all auto & other auxiliary industries ever since the reforms started in the industry. The normal worker has been put under enormous mental pressure as he is not sure whether he will have a permanent job. I am sure if the so called multi nationals who have started auto industries would dare to this in their own country. This prolonged practice has taken it's toll now. I am sure we will see many more Manesar's in the years to come at various industrial hubs if you do not treat the workers as human beings and give them a feeling that they belong to the company. Instead of shedding crocodile tears it is better we look deep into the conscience and find a long term solution to this.
The union in Maruti plant which witnessed violence was not an independent union, not affiliated to any political party. Hence, there cannot be an accusation of any ‘political’ management. Issue of contract staff employment in many companies has become a very contentious one, with arguments and counter arguments for and against such employment. If employing contract staff is necessary, it is then obligatory on the part of employer to ensure that the wage difference between the regular staff and contract staff remains at manageable level. Secondly, it is necessary for the contract employees to understand why companies prefer to employ contract staff on such a massive scale. If the existing labour laws are forcing the employers to employ contract staff, government must engage with industry leaders and labour unions and seek viable solutions. In any case, lawlessness and violence can never be justified; they are self-destructive.
starting from the basics the condition of an average industrial worker must be improved.be it form of wages or more social acceptance.they must be treated as part of organization,also managers need to be more adept to tackle this type of situation.
This is a sad incident.This incident also shows that not everything is
well in industry sector.The management-workmen relations should be based
on new theory of MANAGEMENT.This is time of economic slowdown.The
management is working under pressure.But there is much scope for reforms
in this sector.
Workers at Maruti plant or their counterparts in Sriperambudur should take note of the sad outcome of militant trade unionism in West Bengal and textile industry in Mumbai. Factories closed down or moved out Bengal, textile industry was decimated in Mumbai and thousands of workers lost their precious livelihood. Eventually when the Left govt in Bengal realized their past mistakes and tried to rectify the industry situation in Bengal it was too late, too little. Because of fear of unionism owners of small industries reluctant to hire workers since a workers number threshold would allow unions to take hold and the owners would lose the control and flexibility needed to run their businesses. Maruti workers are better paid than most others, whatever grievances they have had no justification to resort to violence and murder. Textile industry didn't revive in Mumbai. Don't let the same happen in Guragaon. Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs!
You completely ignored the issue that political parties play a key role in trade unions. The political parties, particularly on the left, have a vested interest in maintaining an acrimonious and hostile environment. It is this environment - one that has been deliberately fostered - that was on full display as well paid workers went hunting for supervisory staff.
Militant trade unionism is to be condemned. Such incidents scare away industries and it is the workers who will ultimately suffer. As you have rightly pointed out, the Haryana Gove failed to take appropriate action to prevent the tragedy that occurred at the car factory. One way to prevent militant trade unionism is to prevent unions from being controlled by political parties and career politicians.
Both labor unions and management have to work together to participate in creating products,
profits and benefits to themselves and the larger community and the economy. Politics has to
be kept at arms length. The trust that is needed has to be created and nurtured early on and
begins with concessions and compromise on an agreed mission. There is the added chasm
of cultural differences between multinationals and Indian ethnic characteristics. A period of
learning and assimilation on both sides is an essential pre-requisite, also taking into account
the deprivations on social and economic levels that an average Indian industrial worker is
subjected to. A tall order considering the imperatives of the market but still a necessity. Here
the government has a duty on its hands.
Unionization is a pathetic and out-gone concept as it only serves the
purpose of union leaders who are in cahoot with local political
leaders. Most of the times these leaders do no work and exploit the
authority vested in them.
Unions were relevant when most of the industries were owned by houses
who thought nothing but profit. Times have changed and management has
realized the inevitable support of employees. The rule is simple one
will be paid according to the work.
Most of these unions are owned by political leaders (Jitendra Awhad of
NCP was leading the Air India pilot strike) and serve no real purpose
on a country where more than 80% workers work in unorganized sector.
It is understandable that left oriented 'The Hindu' is advocating the
essentiality of trade unions but for a man on street unions are
discretionary, which can be done away with.
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