Maruti Gurgaon workers to get up to Rs 18,000 wage hike

Maruti Suzuki will increase salaries of its Gurgaon plant workers by an average of Rs 14,800 a month, as part of a wage settlement reached with the plant union on Tuesday. This will cover a total of 2,032 permanent workers. The highest increase will see those workers who have been with the company for many years getting about Rs 18,000 jump in their monthly salaries. The last wage agreement was in 2009, when the average increase was Rs 7,900. Kuldeep Janghu, General Secretary of the Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union (Gurgaon plant), said that the workers are very happy with the new agreement. “Apart from an average increase of Rs 14,800, we will get an average additional settlement amount of Rs 2,709 annually.” A company spokesperson added, “Workers will also be provided with an interest-free loan of up to Rs 20,000. Also, there was a provision earlier where if they had their parents (dependents) living with them, they could claim Rs 1 lakh a year, now they can get that without their parents living at the same place.” In the absence of a union, workers at the Manesar plant will also be offered the same wage deal, which they would have to accept in writing. Salary negotiations for contract workers in both plants will also begin soon, sources said.