After a month-long lockout at its Manesar facility, Maruti Suzuki India
is ready to reopen the plant tomorrow with less than a tenth of its
total workforce slated to resume operations in a single shift.
The company had declared an indefinite lockout at the Manesar plant on
July 21 following the worst-ever violence in its history on July 18 that
left one senior official dead and nearly 100 others injured.
“We are reopening the plant with 300 workers. With this workforce, we
will operate just a single shift from 8 am to 4:30 pm,” Maruti Suzuki
India Chief Operating Officer (Administration) S.Y. Siddiqui told PTI.
Initially about 150 cars will be rolled out every day instead of
1,500-1,700 units earlier. Production will be gradually ramped up at the
plant, which has an annual capacity of 5.5 lakh units.
The company will restart the production at the unit under heavy police
presence. It has also formed its own special force, comprising
ex-service men.
Maruti Suzuki has also decided to terminate the services of 500
permanent workers, who were allegedly found to be involved in the
violence inside the plant.
Besides, the company is also said to be planning to remove another 500
contract workers over their alleged role in the violence and arson.
Prior to the incident, the plant had an employee strength of 3,300, of
which 1,528 were permanent.
To increase the workforce, the company will start fresh recruitment of
permanent workers from September 2 and existing contract workers will
also be considered for the same.
