Honda Suspends Manesar Operations: Workers’ Protest Enters Day Six

According to the contractual workers, a text message from the company said, "Due to prevailing IR (industrial relations) situation in the plant, operations will be suspended until further intimation to you."

Protests began last Tuesday, when HMSI revealed a list with names of about 650 contractual workers to be sent indefinite leave. 1,800 contractual workers retaliated by refusing to leave the plant, and an additional 200 started a protest outside the facility.

The worker are demanding a compensation of Rs 1 lakh, per worker, for every year worked (restricted to the 650 workers put on indefinite leave). The worker also demand that working conditions have to improve, and that proper meals have to be served. They feel the management is making life difficult for them.

Discussions between the contractual workers, the management and the labour department have ended in deadlocks so far, and seems to have no solution in sight. The company feels that all efforts being directed towards a solution seem to be in vain.

The Labour Department feels that HMSI will not give in to demands because the payout is huge and the company has to hold finances because of losses incurred during the current slowdown.

Over one lakh job have been directly, and indirectly affected because of the slowdown in the auto industry. The contractual worker however argue that all Honda's other manufacturing facilities are operational and the Manesar facility is the only one being affected.

Representatives from the (AITUC) All India Trade Union Council visited Honda's Manesar plant on Tuesday to extend their support to the workers in protest. The AITUC said they have asked for government intervention and have met officials to discuss solutions as well.

Thoughts About Honda Planning To Suspend Operations At The Manesar Plant

Well that's not an entertaining situation to be in, and we're not sure who will win this battle. HMSI however, has the upper hand. They reduce costs with the suspending operations at Manesar, and could possibly pay absolutely nothing to workers while the facility is shut.