Published Jan 11, 2023 | 12:35 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 11, 2023 | 12:35 PM
Yazaki Workers' Union staged a protest in Ramanagara recently. (Pic - Twitter - AISA Karnataka)
Bowing to pressure from protesting employees, automotive component maker Yazaki India on Tuesday, 10 January, took back 45 of the 153 workers it had terminated, allegedly without notice, in December.
The company’s problems, however, are unlikely to end soon as issues relating to the overwhelming use of contract employees remain.
Yazaki India, a subsidiary of the Tokyo headquartered Yazaki Corporation, is located at Lakkenahalli village in Maddur taluka in Ramanagara district of Karnataka.
It had allegedly terminated the services of 153 workers without giving them any notice or valid reason, sparking an indefinite strike by the workers with the support of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU).
After a series of meetings brokered by the district administration, the company on Tuesday agreed to take back 45 workers and also promised to issue orders reinstating the rest in the coming days.
According to reports, the company employees around 3,500 employees, but only 130 are permanent workers. The remaining work on a two- and three-year contract basis.
Trouble began on 13 December when 53 laborers were prevented by security guards from entering the factory on the ground that their employment had been terminated, the workers claimed.
When the 53 workers launched protests against the company, another 100 employees, who too work on a contract basis, joined the protest, demanding their reinstatement.
The company terminated the services of these 100 employees as well on 14 December.
Yazaki, a Japanese car parts manufacturer, illegally terminated 154 of its workers. We demand that they immediately take the workers back and make them permanent. Request to raise their voice in solidarity with the workers @zenroren @jcp_cc
#YazakiTakeWorkersBack pic.twitter.com/ZuDC84PwGd
— Clifton D’ Rozario (@clifroz) January 9, 2023
Suresh Hanumanthappa, a contract-based employee and president of the Yazaki Workers’ Union, told South First: “Even before the end of the contract, the company sacked 53 people. The company officials did not give any valid reason to justify the termination of these employees.”
“Another 100 workers, fearing that they might also meet the same fate in future, expressed solidarity with the terminated employees by joining the protest. The very next day, these 100 workers were also terminated.”
“It is tough to find a new job. We have also made rental agreements by paying thousands of rupees to the house owner. If they terminate without prior notice, where should we go?” Hanumanthappa wondered.
“The company terminated the 53 employees when the workers’ union demanded a pay hike and permanent employment status for a few experienced workers,” one worker said.
Of the company’s 3,500 employees, at least half hail from Kalaburagi, Koppal, Belagavi, Bidar and other districts of North Katrnataka”, according to one employee.
The contract employees are paid anywhere between ₹10,000 and ₹12,500 per month, while permanent employees receive ₹25,000 and above, claimed employees.
“Whether you have a SSLC qualification (Class 10) or an engineering degree, you work as contract employees. We are paid very meagre wages,” Hanumanthappa contended.
He further said: “The company is not worker-friendly. The new HRs (human resource managers) do not respect the employees. They don’t even listen to our issues. This company has anti-labour policies. We need timely increments and a work-friendly environment in the company. We are asking our rights.”
Arindham R, a district committee member of AICCTU, said: “They have a fraud company policy. They recruit the new employees as trainees. After hiring, they extend the training period up to three years and then terminate workers without providing valid reasons or prior intimation.”
“Then under the same policy they recruit another set of workers. This culture has been unethically practiced for the past many years by this company,” Arindham, who is leading the protests against Yazaki India, told South First.
“We have raised this issue in our meetings and have demanded that it be scrapped. We will continue to fight against this policy until it is withdrawn.”
The Yazaki Workers’ Union has also submitted a memorandum to the Ramanagara district administration. The district administration chaired multiple meetings between the workers and the company management in a bid to sort out issues.
Arindham said: “After intensifying the protest and the timely intervention of the district administration, the district labour commissioner and the police, the company has issued re-joining orders to 45 employees.”
“Though they have assured of issuing re-joining orders to the remaining employees, there is no clarity on the matter,” said Arindham.
“We will pursue the matter until all the 153 employees are reinstated. We will continue to stage protests until our demands are met,” added Arindham.
South First reached out to Yazaki India’s HR manager Chandrashekar, but he did not respond to calls.
