Maruti reopens Manesar plant under police protection

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Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday reopened its Manesar plant amid heavy security, a month after a lockout was declared due to the violence in which one senior company official was killed and 100 others injured.

Workers are standing in queue outside the factory gate to enter the plant amid heavy rain. Haryana Police has provided 500 personnel, out of which 200 are inside the plant and 300 in areas around the facility.

Besides, the company has also formed its own special force numbering 100, which includes ex-service men.

The company had earlier announced that only 300 permanent workers will resume work. Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Chief Operating Officer (Administration) S.Y. Siddiqui had said on Monday that the workers would operate just a single shift from 8 am to 4:30 pm.

Initially, about 150 cars are expected to be rolled out every day instead of the plant's normal capacity of 1,500- 1,700 units. Production will be gradually ramped up at the plant, which has an annual capacity of 5.5 lakh units.

The company had declared a lockout at Manesar plant on July 21 following the worst ever violence in its history on July 18. The 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.

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

Besides, MSI is also said to be planning to remove another 500 contract workers over their alleged role in the violence and arson.

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

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.