Toyota India to abide by government orders in the standoff issue

In a bid to resolve the standoff with workers, Toyota India has waived off the “good conduct” agreement provided they join from Monday. Karnataka state government on Saturday issued a statement asking workers to resume work on Monday, April 21, and also directed the Japanese car maker eliminate the good conduct agreement. 

However, the workers seem against this development as R Satish, general secretary of Toyota Kirloskar workers union told a newspaper, “They will decide on their stand after the office bearers of the Union meet tomorrow.”

"The government of Karnataka, in order to maintain industrial peace and harmony, has issued an order asking the company and the union to restore normalcy in operations, immediately," Toyota said in a statement. "All relevant issues between the workers and the management have been referred for adjudication," the statement added. 

"The dispute pertaining to the wages has been forwarded to the industrial disputes tribunal. So, it is sub judice. Now, the company has to remove the clause asking workers to sign the good conduct code as continuation of any such demand by the company is a violation of state law," said the official. 

The notice issued by Karnataka state government has a “prohibitory order” to which the 4,500 workers of Toyota have to comply. The statement said the workers have to resume work Monday onwards failing which the company is permitted to recruit new staff. The workers union hasn’t come up with any official statement yet apart from indications that they won’t join from Monday. 

Source: ET