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Strike fails to dent Maruti’s production Aviation Notes
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Investor Guidance
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Strike fails to dent Maruti’s production
New Delhi, September 24 According to senior Maruti officials, the company is able to produce 700-plus Swift cars daily at Manesar and Gurgaon, more than it has ever done in the past at over 17,500 units of Swift in a month. It is also planning to start production of SX4 and A star in Manesar in the next 3-4 days. It has also commenced trials of a new Desire model in Manesar. This strike that has gone on for over three weeks now and the earlier strike in June have resulted in a turnover loss of close to Rs 900 crore for the company but even with production problems and the stalemate, Maruti seems to firm that there needs to be a proper resolution for the long term so that the problems do not recur. Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava is on record that the Manesar issue is essentially a political problem, with no significant demand from workers and it has to be resolved within the industrial relations norms of the company. The Maruti issue has implications for investment and employment in the Manesar industrial belt. Industrial unrest in the Honda two-wheeler plant and in suppliers like Rico Auto had already cast a shadow on the investment climate in the area. Maruti will be an important test case for the future of the Manesar belt as a manufacturing hub. The company’s firm stand on a labour issue in year 2000 in Gurgaon was an important precedent for investments in that belt. About 1,300 persons are currently working in the Manesar plant. This includes 290 supervisors of Manesar plant and about 100 engineers from the Gurgaon plant who are engaged in manufacture and quality checks of the cars. In the last few days, Maruti Suzuki has brought in over 800 experienced and ITI trained people to smoothen and scale up production at Manesar plants. In addition, it has moved 90 engineers from Gurgaon plant to Manesar. In all, there are about 950 regular workers at the Manesar plant. The labour issue impacts this category of workers. About 125-odd workers are the hardcore striking workers while about the same number of workers are on the other side - they have signed the Good Conduct Bond and are working in the factory. The remaining are more or less neutral. The labour problem started on August 29 when the company asked all regular workers to sign the Good Conduct Bond. The company has charged workers with indiscipline on the shop floor, including sabotage of production by a section of workers. It has said that these workers deliberately caused quality problems such as cutting wiring harness, causing dents in cars and fitting the wrong components. The Good Conduct Bond is a reassurance/renewed commitment by the worker that he will maintain discipline on the shop floor, and not resort to go-slow or strike. Talks facilitated by the Haryana Labour Department late last week failed on Sunday night. There were two issues in the negotiations. While workers agreed to sign the Good Conduct Bond, the talks broke down on the fate of the 62 workers against whom the company had taken disciplinary action. The striking workers demanded that all but two of the 62 workers be taken back. The company refused to take back workers against whom there were criminal cases and who had beaten up company supervisors in the past few days.
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Terminal-3 an engineering ‘disaster’ by KR Wadhwaney The Rs 9,000-crore Terminal-3, constructed by the GMR's Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) at the IGIA, showed its real face following recent rains. The sophisticated and sensitive installations got submerged in water, causing enormous losses . At least 50 national and international flights were disrupted; passengers were inconvenienced enormously. There was water on the runways and taxiways. These handicaps slowed down movements of the aircraft for taxiing towards the parking bays. What was cause for concern was that the main runway 28/10 and new runway 29/11 had to be utilised alternately for flight operations. The scene inside the arrival hall was no better. The baggage of the passengers got badly damaged and they were clamouring for compensation from the airlines, which expressed their helplessness in the matter. The offices of the security, customs and warehouses were also water-logged. As water was gushing out from several points and parts of the ceiling, the authorities had to shut down sensitive and critical electrical units. As they stood shut down, the essential services like escalators, elevators and flight information system became unserviceable causing manifold problems to incoming and outgoing passengers. The baggage make-up area plunged into virtual darkness. Phone lines stood dysfunctional for hours. The passengers' woes mounted as the tunnel on the northern access road to the T-3 was closed owing to water-logging. Analysts said it was an engineering disaster. While passengers suffered, blame game started between DIAL and metro authorities. The fact was that the private consortium of the GMRao's DIAL was more to blame for the 'water world' at the Terminal-3. The commanders, captains and senior airlines officials are of the firm observation that the ills that exists at the new terminal are mostly 'man-made' and not because of 'natural elements'. Many passengers were heard saying that they were shocked to witness the state of the newly constructed Terminal-3. What, according to passengers, Indians and foreigners, was cause for concern was the officials were 'indifferent' to them when they urgently needed assistance. While passengers have been protesting and complaining about the lack of facilities since the inauguration of the Terminal-3 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi last year, the DIAL’s cargo-official turned-CEO PS Nair never gets tired by announcing that “this is one of the leading airports in the world”. How? By what logic?
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No partial withdrawals from PPF a/c allowed in case of death of subscriber by A.N. Shanbhag Q: What happens if a PPF A/c holder or subscriber dies under the following conditions: 1) If maturity year of the investment period is not completed and lets say the holder dies on 11th July 2011. 2) There is a nominee for that account. I understand that even though nominee cannot contribute any additional amount can the nominee continue to keep the account until 31-3-2012? Until what time can you keep this account? If you are allowed to keep the account active what is the regulation about the interest on that? The balance, if not withdrawn, how long can it continue to earn tax-free interest? — Raj A: On the death of a subscriber, the balance in the PPF account is paid on demand to his nominee or successor. However, the balance, if not withdrawn, continues to earn tax-free interest. No partial withdrawals are permitted. Note that it is not wise for the nominee to continue the account since the nominee cannot appoint a nominee. Senior Citizen Savings Scheme Q:
The bank where I have my 9% Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) Account are not clear about the rules themselves. The brief position is that my SCSS Account completed the first five years on 8th September 2011. Therefore, it is due for renewal or closure. The rule for extension in this regard states:- “The depositor may extend the account for a further period of three years by making an application in Form-B to the deposit office within a period of one year after the maturity period of five years as specified in sub-rule (2). Explanation - Extension of account under this sub-rule shall be deemed to have been made from the date of maturity irrespective of the date of application.” My query is how many times can this account be extended by periods of three years each? Is it once only or can it be extended any number of times? — Col (retd) RN Kakar A:
The account can be extended only once. The Rule, as correctly stated by you, does not state that at the end of the extended period of three years, it can be further extended. You are required to close the account and if you so wish, you may open another new SCSS account. Though you have not asked for any suggestions, we would like to point out that it would be better for you to take the money to any bank FD, where the current rate of interest is higher than the one available on SCSS. Most banks give higher rate to senior citizens. The authors may be contacted at
wonderlandconsultants@yahoo.com |
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Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing operations are now practically unaffected by the labour issue at its Manesar plant.
According to senior Maruti officials, the company is able to produce 700-plus Swift cars daily at Manesar and
Gurgaon, more than it has ever done in the past at over 17,500 units of Swift in a month. It is also planning to start production of SX4 and A star in Manesar in the next 3-4 days. It has also commenced trials of a new Desire model in
Manesar.
