Workers go on strike at Munjal Showa Manesar plant

Workers at auto component-maker Munjal Showa Ltd's Manesar plant resorted to a strike today that hit production, an indicator that the labour unrest at Maruti Suzuki India's unit in the region is spreading to surrounding areas.

"The workers were protesting against the transfer of two of their colleagues from the Manesar plant to Gurgaon. State labour department officials have reached the plant for talks, but the management has agreed not to transfer them," Munjal Showa Managing Director Yogesh Munjal told PTI.

The trouble had started last evening.

According to a company official, who asked not to be identified, casual workers at the plant were also demanding regularisation.

There are up to 1,500 workers at the company's Manesar plant, but it could not be ascertained how many of them are casual workers.

The official, however, said the majority of them were casual workers.

The company is one of the leading manufacturers of shock absorbers and struts for two-wheelers and four-wheelers in India. It has three factories in the country, located at Manesar, Gurgaon and Haridwar.

The labour unrest at the company's Manesar plant comes at a time when Maruti Suzuki India has been facing problems with its workers since August 29, which has severely impacted production at the plant.