Maruti Suzuki will re-open its Manesar plant on August 21. The move, which is coming almost a month after the lockout was declared, will see production resume in phases and 150 cars being assembled on a daily basis by 300 workers.
The company has terminated the services of 500 regular employees who were involved in the violence. This list includes those who have been arrested or booked by the police in connection with the riots, said RC Bhargava, MSIL chairman, in a statement to the media.
It has also deployed 500 security personnel at the Manesar plant to ensure the safety of the workers, a prime concern that it has constantly re-emphasised since the lockout was declared. The Indo-Japanese automaker has also formed its own force of 100 guards in addition to the security provided by the government.
The Manesar plant is where Maruti’s two most popular models, the Swift and the Dzire, are assembled. Due to the riots most dealers have almost run out of stock, extending the waiting period for these models to well over four months.
The resumption of production just before the holiday season arrives could be a way for Maruti to recover some of the losses it has incurred due to the lockout. However, Bhargava, when asked about a timeline for return to full capacity, did not give a specific date. On a related note, with the announcement that the plant would resume operations again, Maruti’s shares rose by 1.1 per cent.
Edit:
We have just received news that workers’ union at the Maruti Gurgaon facility is opposing sacking Manesar workers. Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union (MUKU)plans to rally support of other unions in the Gurgaon-Manesar belt against the move. "We are opposed to the sacking of workers at the Manesar plant. This was not the right thing," MUKU general secretary Kuldeep Jhangu said.
