Workers at India’s biggest two-wheeler exporter Bajaj Auto, are reportedly demanding the temporary closure of one of its plants after 250 employees tested positive for coronavirus. The recent demand by the union comes at a time when the company is struggling to ramp up operations.
India went into complete lockdown in late March to curb the spread of the virus but started easing restrictions despite the number of cases surging, putting some companies in a difficult position as they try to revive production.
The Bajaj Auto factory affected is located in western Maharashtra, the state with the highest number of cases of COVID-19. The company said in a letter to employees this week that those who do not show up for work will not be paid.
“People are scared to come to work. Some are still coming but some are taking leave,” said Thengade Bajirao, president of the Bajaj Auto Workers’ Union.
The company said on June 26 that 140 of the roughly 8,000 staff at the factory had caught the virus and two had died. It said work there would not be stopped, however, as the company wanted to learn to “live with the virus”.
“We requested the company to temporarily close the plant for 10-15 days to break the cycle but they said there is no point as people will continue to gather for social events outside of work,” the Bajaj union’s Bajirao said.
For every employee testing positive, four who work close to them have to be quarantined, affecting productivity, he said.
With an annual production capacity of over 3.3 million motorbikes and other vehicles, the Waluj plant accounts for more than 50% of Bajaj’s manufacturing volume in India.
“If an employee remains absent at office or plant due to any reason despite being asked by the company … then his/her salary would be deducted 100% during the period,” Bajaj said in the letter to employees.
Earlier in May, Chinese smartphone maker OPPO suspended operations briefly at a plant near New Delhi after some workers tested positive. The recent surge in cases at the manufacturing facilities of various companies only shows the flaw in the practices followed by the organizations despite the government-mandated guidelines.
Workers and union leaders say Bajaj has taken steps to ensure social distancing on the factory floor and in its cafeteria, besides arranging separated seating on its buses and providing masks and sanitizers for staff. But they say this is not enough.
“On the assembly line, multiple people touch the same engine. We were wearing gloves but still caught the virus,” said one worker who was in the hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.
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