HMSI agitating workers to hit Delhi streets next week

The striking workers, who were terminated from job in February, are demanding reinstatement of jobs

Hundreds of agitated workers from Japanese auto major Honda’s two wheeler plant in Rajasthan’s Tapukara will hit the Delhi roads next week. The striking workers, who were terminated from job in February, claim thousands of two-wheelers produced by the Tapukara unit since February do not meet the quality standards since untrained workers were brought in as replacements.

“We will stand outside Honda two-wheeler showrooms and public places in Delhi and talk about the injustice done with us and the compromise on quality in many two-wheelers produced since February,” said a worker who lost his job in February.

“Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is committed and strictly adheres to the highest quality standards. Under no circumstances, it compromises on its product and service quality. Customer interest is always taken as the first priority. Our products always stand and speak for their highest quality benchmark in the industry. Daily production across all its four plants including Tapukara is at peak production levels and is in line with Honda's stringent quality standards. The allegations are unfounded, mischievous and malicious, aimed at damaging the reputation, goodwill and business interest of Honda. The company also reserves the right to take any recourse under the ambit of law”, said a company spokesperson.

 

Honda is the second largest two-wheeler player in the Indian market. A large number of workers in the company’s Tapukara plant went on a strike on February 16, which the company termed illegal. The company claimed workers damaged various units of the plant and disturbed operations seeking reinstatement of four workers whose services were terminated over indiscipline. The plant has a capacity to produce 1.2 million two-wheelers a year. Workers claim that the cases filed against them were a ploy to stop them from forming union.

The terminated workers, about 200 permanent and several hundred contractual, have been protesting for last many months. This week they are protesting in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and are seeking an end to all charges and reinstatement of jobs.