Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India (HMSI) said that it has given an opportunity to respond to the two workers it recently “suspended pending enquiry” on disciplinary grounds. On Thursday, the company issued a chargesheet to the workers.
A “final decision on the issue” will be taken after their response, the company said after a meeting between HMSI’s Manesar plant union, company officials and Labour Department Officer Ishwar Singh Hooda. A third meeting on the matter is now scheduled for August 13.
The Japanese two-wheeler maker had suspended two workers, Union member Jaibeer Yadav and Naresh Yadav, on allegations of “manhandling and assault of a manager.”
With the Union insisting on the re-instatement of the workers, the suspension threatens to spiral into an major industrial unrest. The region is already going through turmoil, with Maruti Suzuki’s nearby plant being shut since July 18 after violence left a company official dead and 96 injured.
“The environment is volatile at the factory as the workers aren’t happy with management’s response. We’ve told the company that we don’t want to have a dispute and the matter needs to be resolved soon,” Ashok Yadav, President of HMSI Employees’ Union said.
Tripartite meetings with the labour department have been held on August 7th and 9th. Separately, HMSI workers are also negotiating a new wage settlement with the management, which they allege is the main cause of dispute.