Karnataka labour department calls Toyota officials and workers for a meeting

The Karnataka labour department has called for a meeting with Toyota’s management and the company’s workers union. The workers union, yesterday, had declared a relay fast to protest against the company and that seems to have led to this development.

The labour department had called for a meeting on Monday, which was postponed to April 10 as Toyota’s management wanted time said Satish R, general secretary of the employees union. “We had written a letter to the labour department on March 24 saying that a lockout situation was continuing because of the conditions set by the management. The meeting was in response to that.”

“We have decided to go on a relay fast from Tuesday,” said Satish. Around nine union members, who were on hunger strike, had been hospitalised on Sunday evening but have since recovered, he added.

Toyota claims its production levels are down by half of its installed capacity of 700 units per day. The waiting period for their cars has extended to about 45 days from 25 before. 

Toyota may be launching the Etios Cross on May 7, bookings for which began in February. The company also has the Corolla Altis sedan lined up for a mid-year launch. About 1,200 supervisory staff, 800 apprentice staff and 400 contract labourers are working in the assembly line to keep the production going. 

Source: FE