Maruti resumes SX4 production; no solution to labour issue

Maruti Suzuki India today said it has resumed production of mid-sized sedan SX4, a month after it was stopped due to the ongoing labour issue at its Manesar plant.

In the meantime, talks between the management and workers failed to make any breakthrough today with both sides unwilling to budge from their respective positions.

The company said it rolled out 725 Swift cars from both Gurgaon and Manesar facilities, while it has brought in another batch of "120 experienced and trained technicians" at the plant, taking the strength total to 1,500 workers.

"As the manpower now reaches a comfortable level, the company has decided to further scale up production and start manufacturing other models as well at Manesar, besides Swift which has been the focus model for production at Manesar plants so far," MSI said in a statement.

Today, the company started production of SX4 model at Manesar plants, it added.

From tomorrow, MSI will also start second shift at the Manesar 'Plant B' site where the company had started part production a few days back, it said.

According to sources privy to talks between the management and workers, fresh rounds of negotiations held today did not yield any results.

While the workers are demanding that all the 62 dismissed and suspended colleagues be taken back, the management is unwilling to do so.

Moreover, the workers are not ready to sign the good conduct bond, which the management has made a prerequisite to enter the factory premises for work.

The bond required the workers to declare they would "not resort to go slow, intermittent stoppage of work, stay- in-strike, work-to-rule, sabotage or otherwise indulge in any activity, which would hamper normal production in the factory".

Production at the Manesar plant has been hit since August 29 due to the impasse, although it has gradually returned towards normal level with MSI adopting alternative methods.