India: GM begins hiring new staff for Halol plant

The Times of India (Vadodara) - Even as the strike continued for the 12th day at the Halol plant of General Motors India (GMI), the company has started to hire new temporary staff.

On Monday, the plant operated on a general shift while the striking workers approached Panchmahal district collector Milind Torawane.

"We have started hiring people and production of vehicles is going up," GMI vice-president P Balendran told TOI.

The newly registered Gujarat Kamdar Mandal, affiliated to Intuc (Indian National Trade Union Congress) - which has called the strike - on its part claimed that junior officials of GMI sought more time from the assistant labour commissioner, Godhra to respond to the notices issued to GMI on harassment of workers and excess workload.

"We have not received any notice. It is completely baseless. Why should the labour commissioner issue a notice to us when he has himself declared the strike illegal?" said Balendran, adding that the question of negotiations with the striking workers does not arise as the strike is result of intra union rivalry.

Gujarat Intuc president Nihil Mehta, however, said that GMI officials have sought time till April 18 to respond to the notices issued by the labour commissioner office at Godhra. "The workers have also resolved to go on hunger strike at the district collector office from Tuesday onwards," said Mehta.

"The notices have been issued for breach of Factory Act as they were paying less wages to workers by excluding overtime wages which should have been given to them," added Mehta.