Maruti Suzuki India reopens Manesar plant under police protection

After a month-long lockout at its Manesar facility, Maruti Suzuki India today reopened its Manesar plant amid heavy security, a lockout was declared due to the violence in which one senior company official was killed and 100 others injured. Haryana Police has provided 500 personnel, out of which 200 are inside the plant and 300 in areas around the facility.

The Maruti Suzuki India  had declared a lockout at 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. The Manesar plant suffered damages estimated to be less than Rs 10 crore, while the overall production loss during the lockout was pegged at around Rs 1,400 crore.

The Company Chief Operating Officer (Administration) S.Y. Siddiqui Said “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,”.

The company has also decided to terminate the services of 500 permanent workers, who were allegedly found to be involved in the violence inside the plant. 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.

Prior to the incident, the plant had an employee strength of 3,300, of which 1,528 were permanent.

Maruti Suzuki India had earlier announced that only 300 permanent workers will resume work. 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.

After the violence on July 18, the Manesar plant is currently being guarded by the Haryana Police. Following the violence and arson, in which one senior executive was killed and nearly 100 others injured, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) had on July 21 announced an indefinite lockout at the unit.