The strike by workers of General Motors India (GMI) at the Halol plant in Gujarat continues. 900 temporary workers of the car plant are on strike since March 16, 2011.
The strike by workers of General Motors India (GMI) at the Halol plant in Gujarat continues. 900 temporary workers of the car plant are on strike since March 16, 2011.
The workers are protesting against the intensive workload and demanding withdrawal of workers transfers and solution to wage related problems. They are also demanding regularization. The workers have approached the National Human Rights Commission with the complaint that the violation of workers rights is human rights violations.
Due to intense workload, a number of workers are suffering form back pain. When workers complain of the pain, they are transferred to company's dealership operations in Delhi, Gurgaon, and Chennai. Four workers have been suspended since the strike began.
The union complained to the Human Rights Commission that workmen are living in an atmosphere of fear as the Labour Commissioner and related Government Authorities turn a blind eye whenever grievances are raised by workers. Out of 1,800 workmen, General Motors employ around 900 temporary workers, who are performing similar work as that of permanent workers, but paid less violating Equal Remuneration Act 1996. These workers are treated inhumanly and compelled to work for more than 9 hours a day. After every six months, to evade the law, temporary workers are relieved and many of them are recruited as fresh workers and provided new provident fund number.