Production in different factories belonging to various companies, including Maruti Suzuki India, at the Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt has been hit since this afternoon, with workers going on a flash strike inside the plants in support of the casual workers of the carmaker.

Work at Maruti Suzuki India's (MSI) Manesar plant, Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd and Satyam Auto came to a standstill when the workers struck work from the second shift. “A sit-in protest by workers has started inside the Manesar plant around 4 p.m. this afternoon,” an MSI official told PTI.

The workers are demanding that the casual labourers of the Manesar plant, who have been kept out by the management after signing a deal to end a 33-day long standoff with permanent workers, be taken back.

“It is unfair not to take back the casual workers while the permanent workers have been allowed to resume duties,” the Suzuki Motorcycle India Employees Union President, Mr Anil Kumar, said.