Protest at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant entered into the 13th day on Wednesday after the tripartite negotiations initiated by the Haryana Labour Department, broke down, late Tuesday evening.

Officials of the Haryana Labour Department are presently holding talks with workers of Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) as well as those of Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd (SPIL) and their respective managements.

While the company alleged that workers were maintaining an adamant attitude, the workers denied all charges blaming the management for adopting pressure tactics.

Mr Shiv Kumar, the Secretary of the unrecognised Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU), said that the second round of talks for the day was scheduled at 6 pm on Tuesday, while their internal inquiry was still going on at Manesar. “We can't be at two places at the same time," Mr Kumar said.

The company is carrying on with internal disciplinary enquiries against 44 permanent workers who were put under suspension, when the agreement was reached on October 1, following a 33-day long stand-off. The company has charged these workers of indiscipline, abusing supervisors and sabotaging production.

“The situation remains the same as yesterday. The agitation is continuing, but we will continue partial production at the plant,” a company spokesperson said.

Maruti Suzuki India rolled out 350 cars from the Manesar plant and 1750 vehicles from its facility at Gurgaon on Tuesday.

The production at MSIL’s Manesar plant had come to a halt, when workers went on a stay-in protest on October 7, demanding reinstatement of 1200 casual workers and 44 permanent workers under suspension, after an agreement was signed on October 1. Workers at SPIL and Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) had also gone on strike from October 7 in support of their colleagues at Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) and are continuing their stir.

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