"Layoffs Rise As Automobile Companies Are Using Slowdown As Excuse To Terminate Workers", 2 December 2019

India’s auto industry has been severely hit by the ongoing economic slowdown in the country and whereas about 4 lakh employees have already lost their jobs and several leading firms have been compelled to axe their shifts and stop production, the workers are protesting against the rising layoffs as well as the delay in the wage settlements for many manufacturing units. 

The Times of India has reported that around 800 workers from different automobile companies, including Suzuki Motorcycles, Maruti Suzuki, Bellsonica Corporation, SPM Auto and others sat on an eight-hour-long protest outside the deputy commissioner’s office in Gurugram on Sunday. 

The reason? They are fearful in the wake of continuing layoffs as they alleged that the companies are using the ‘economic slowdown’ as an excuse to terminate workers...

...There were many others who attended the protest and they said that even if there was a slowdown, it is the responsibility of the government to take care of the workers. 

Meanwhile, the protest by the contractual workers at Honda Motorcycles and Scooters Private limited continues almost a month after around 650 workers were forcefully sent on leave. According to rough estimates, around 1,00,000 jobs have been impacted in the manufacturing and logistics sector due to the automobile slowdown and many union leaders now fear that there could be unrest in the area if the government doesn’t take any measures to address the workers’ concerns...