Maruti's Manesar unit workers demand 5-fold rise in basic pay

According to sources close to the development, the newly formed body - Maruti Suzuki Workers' Union (MSWU) - has submitted a list of about 20 demands to the management for consideration while finalising the three-year wage settlement agreement.

"The union submitted their list to the management last week. Among the major ones, the workers are demanding raise in basic salaries that can be as high as five times more in some cases," a source said.

The workers have also asked for linking of dearness allowance (DA) to basic pay instead of a fixed amount being given currently, the source added.

When contacted, MSWU General Secretary Sarabjeet Singh said: "We have submitted our demand list to the company management on April 18. It has about 20-22 different points."

He, however, refused to disclose anything about the demands, saying MSWU is yet to start negotiations with the management.

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Managing Executive Officer (Administration) S Y Siddiqui declined to comment.

Among other demands, it is understood that the workers have also asked for increasing the number of privilege and casual leaves, offer conveyance services within 100 km distance from the plant and help the employees in getting affordable accommodation.

According to an employee at the Manesar plant, a permanent worker with a designation of Junior Associate-1 (JA-1) draws a total salary of about Rs 15,000-17,000 a month.

"Out of this total amount, basic pay is Rs 5,000, travelling allowance is Rs 1,600, HRA is around Rs 1,400 and an amount of Rs 200 for washing our clothes. The major component is a variable performance-linked allowance of Rs 7,000-9,000," he added.

Besides these, the workers get a fixed DA of Rs 150 every month, he claimed.