The Hindu Business Line : Bajaj Auto offers VRS to Waluj workers

Pune, Oct. 16 Barely two months after giving 4,000-odd workers at its Waluj plant near Aurangabad a wage revision, Bajaj Auto Ltd has put out a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) here.

The management has denied that a similar VRS is in the offing for workers at its Akurdi plant where production has been shut down since September 1.

Workers over 40 years of age who have put in at least 10 years of service at BAL can opt for the VRS. It offers those eligible three months of wages per year of employment, or wages for the remaining period of service, subject to a ceiling of Rs 5 lakh.

Disabled, ailing or workers who are unable to cope with the newly introduced efficiency norms have been offered a welfare scheme. Those between 40 and 50 years of age have been offered 100 per cent of the basic and Dearness Allowance for 10 years or till they retire, while those above 50 will be given 75 per cent of the basic and DA with the same conditions.

The development is in line with the Managing Director, Mr Rajiv Bajaj’s statement that production at Waluj would be progressively scaled down. With recruitment of blue collar staff having been frozen at BAL’s Akurdi and Waluj plants since 1997, virtually all workers are eligible for it. “We will know the exact number who opt for it on October 27, which is the last date for it,” Mr C.P. Tripathi, Vice-President, Corporate, said.

Unions recognised

The Vishwakalyan Sangathana, one of two workers unions at Bajaj Auto Limited was allotted recognition by the industrial court here today. An application challenging the formal recognition of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena by the management had been filed by the Vishwakalyan Sangathana in November 2005. Mr Vijay Shelar, general secretary of the BKS said that they would appeal the decision but would await further details before taking any action.