The Hindu Business Line : Bajaj workers upset over Akurdi closure

Uneconomical output
Regional distortions created by inconsistent tax benefits, and the continuing of octroi in Maharashtra has rendered production uneconomical

Our Bureau

Pune, Aug. 30

Agitated workers of Bajaj Auto Ltd’s Akurdi plant milled around the office of the Deputy Labour Commissioner today demanding that the company reverse its decision to stop production here and reinstate the six-day working week.

Production halt

BAL had issued a notice yesterday announcing that production at Akurdi would stop from September 1 and that the workers would not need to report to work to get their wages. This comes on the heels of BAL’s move last week to cut the existing workweek from six days to four days and get paid for five-and-a-half days.

The statement also said that “regional distortions created by inconsistent tax benefits, and the continuing evil of octroi in Maharashtra” had rendered production at Akurdi uneconomical.

Following the cut in the work week, workers had approached the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Mr A.R. Laksawar, and a meeting of representatives of the recognised union and company officials had been called for.

‘Sit at home’

Yesterday’s notice announcing Akurdi’s closure and the ‘sit at home and get paid’ offer has added fuel to the simmering issue.

Mr Laksawar pointed out that since the closure was not on account of labour problems, the issue did not strictly come under his purview.

However, he held discussions with company officials and the representatives of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the recognised labour union, urging the company to ‘postpone’ implementing the closure.

“I have asked BAL to compile a comparative statement on the cost of producing at Waluj, Akurdi and Pantnagar by tomorrow. I will forward this to the Labour Minister and recommend that the issues be resolved by holding meetings at the government level,” he said.

The unions

BAL’s 2,700-strong blue-collar work force is divided into two unions, the BKS and the internal Vishwakalyan Sangathana, with both claiming majority and also maintaining that the notice had taken them by surprise.

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Bajaj’s Waluj plant workers get pay hike

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