Honda Manesar operations suspended indefinitely as talks with workers fail

HMSI’s move comes after workers’ agitation, which started on November 5, gained steam with several political parties and labour unions lending their support to them

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has indefinitely suspended operations at its plant in Manesar, Haryana. Alleging misconduct by its permanent workers, labour unions and contract staff, the plant management informed all stakeholders, through a notice, that starting Monday “normal operations” at the plant were being suspended.

The move comes after a round of negotiations on Monday, between union leaders and the plant management, failed to yield results. In a notice, addressed to the heads of labour unions, plant head Saibal Maitra wrote, “The union repeatedly asked contractual workers to continue with their illegal strike and instigated them to sit inside the company premises.

The management and contractors persuaded them verbally and by a written notice to resume normal operations but illegal activities of the union, company workers and contractual workers went on.” “Keeping all these points in mind, normal operations of the plant is not possible. Therefore, all associates are informed that normal operations of the plant are being suspended from Monday,” it read.

Without specifying any date for resumption of operations, the letter said, stakeholders “will be informed about resumption of operations once the condition in the plant becomes normal.” HMSI’s move comes after workers’ agitation, which started on November 5, gained steam with several political parties and unions lending their support to them…