In what could finally put a lid on Maruti Suzuki's labour troubles that began about nine months back in June 2011, the workers' union at its Manesar facility has officially been registered on Monday (February 27), multiple sources said.

Called the ‘Maruti Suzuki Employees' Union', an official inauguration of the 12-member workers' body is expected now on March 1. Mr Ram Mehar Singh will serve as the President and Mr Sarabjeet Singh as the General Secretary of the independent union (without a political affiliation).

“The registration came in only yesterday. This opens a new chapter in management-worker relations at Manesar, which will hopefully now be peaceful as the company has softened its stand over time,” a source close to the development told Business Line .

A Haryana Labour Department official confirmed the development, while a worker at the plant added, “The Union will be formally inaugurated on March 1 and will have only permanent workers.”

Welfare Committees

This also paves the way for formation of the two committees — ‘Grievance Redressal Committee' and ‘Labour Welfare Committee' — originally promised by Maruti under the October 2011 agreement with the workers. “Workers had earlier opposed the formation of the committees, but now they can nominate their representatives to these under the official authority of the Union,” the source said.

The union registration came in after a long and bitter battle on the part of the workers and the management. It was the second such proposal — the first union plan was rejected by Maruti citing external political influence.

The previous set of leaders (30 workers in all ) had been then asked to leave after being given voluntary retirement packages.

In all, Maruti lost around 83,000 units of production and Rs 2,500 crore worth of revenue in 2011 due to the 33-day, three-phased strike at the second facility at Manesar.

Maruti Suzuki shares at the BSE were up 1.14 per cent to Rs 1,269.25 on Tuesday.

>roudra.b@thehindu.co.in

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