Workers of Maruti Suzuki India's plant at Manesar approached district authorities on Monday to end the impasse that has resulted in production being affected since August 29.

Workers' representatives met the Haryana Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr V.K. Hooda, and submitted their demands.

Bone of contention

In a related development, about 2,500 Maruti workers and around 50 students from Jawaharlal Nehru University rallied near the Mini Secretariat demanding withdrawal of the ‘good conduct bond' by the Maruti Suzuki Management.

“We are willing to work but will not sign the good conduct bond,” a worker said, adding that their dismissed and suspended colleagues should be reinstated and the demand for forming a new union must also be allowed.

“So far the company has suspended and terminated the services of 57 workers,” said Mr Amit Chakravarty, a research scholar at JNU, who was at the protest site. The company, however, said only 21 workers had been suspended or dismissed.

The company's daily production of Swift cars touched 500 per day on Monday. “At this level of daily production, we will be able to produce the normal output of 12,500 units of Swift in a month,” a company spokesperson said.

NEW RECRUITMENT

The company said it will begin fresh recruitment of regular workers from Tuesday. On Monday, it brought in 50 more ITI-trained workers, taking the total work strength to 1,100 people.

Out of the 1,100 workers, 630 are on contract, 380 are supervisors and engineers and 95 regular workers are the one's who signed the good conduct bond, company sources said.

Co firm on bond

The company's firm stand on the ‘good conduct bond' was clearly communicated by Mr R.C Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki, a few days ago. “We are very clear that people will have to sign the bond. Only then will they be allowed inside the premises”, he said.

On August 29, production had come to a halt in Manesar after 21 employees were suspended or terminated on charges of sabotaging and alleged quality issues, company sources said. The company also enforced a 'good conduct bond' on workers as a condition to enter the factory.