Pune labour commissioner issues show cause notice to Bajaj

The Pune labour commissioner has issued a show cause notice to Bajaj Auto for allegedly employing workers who are not licence holders and trainees at production line in its Chakan plant, where existing employees have been on a strike since June 25.

According to sources, the company has been given three days time to respond to the notice, which followed a complaint from the workers' union.

The union alleged that the company started using workers, who do not have license, at production line following the strike by its existing employees.

It further said using of 'learn-and-earn' trainees by the company for full time production was in violation of the state's labour laws.

Under the 'learn-and-earn' scheme of Maharashtra, a trainee is given a diploma after completion of a four-year course, which comprises both theory and practical training. The trainee has to obtain 4 hours of practical training and 4 hours of theory classes each working day.

The union alleged that the trainees have not been given theory classes and instead are being used for production purposes full time by the company.

When contacted, a Bajaj Auto official said the company is not aware of such a development and declined to comment.

Last week, Shramik Ekta Mahasangh, an umbrella body of union in the Chakan and nearby Pimpri-Chinchwad industrial belt, had written a letter to the Upper Labour Commissioner of Pune seeking intervention of the department in the matter and bring an end to the strike.

It had cautioned that if the strike was not sorted out, the agitation may spill over to the entire industrial belt in the vicinity.

Around 1,500 employees, including 600-odd contract, temporary and 'earn and learn' trainees, have stopped work at the Chakan plant since June 25, demanding wage revision, better work conditions and stock options.