The Hindu Business Line : Akurdi plant not shut down, says Bajaj Auto

Pune, Sept. 10 Bajaj Auto Ltd on Monday denied that the Akurdi plant near Pune has been shut down, even as workers claim that production of two-wheelers has been totally discontinued from September 1 and that the assembly lines are idle.

In a statement today, Mr Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, said: “The Akurdi plant has not and is not being shut down. All 1,310 staff as also approximately 847 workmen are reporting to work six days a week as per their normal routine.”

It added that after discussions with the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, the original 5.5 days of wages per week have been revised to six days.

In a response, Mr Dilip Pawar, President of Vishwakalyan Sangathan, one of the two labour unions in the company, said: “There are around 400-500 (blue-collar) workers who are in the tool room, R&D, housekeeping, kitchen, etc., who are reporting to work.”

He added: “The management sent letters or made telephone calls to some others asking them to come to work. But there is no production of two-wheelers, and 1,600 workers in the production department have no work.”

Bajaj Auto had issued a statement on August 31 stating that production of two-wheelers was being stopped at Akurdi from September 1.

Officials had said that one motorcycle model was being phased out, while manufacture of its scooterette, Kristal, was being shifted to Waluj, near Aurangabad.

Workers had been told that they need not come to work, but would be paid wages.

Today’s statement also said: “Bajaj has neither internally discussed nor ever externally applied for approval for the use of its land at Akurdi for any purpose other than that of its automotive business.”