Renault-Nissan and Hyundai face shutdowns in India over staff’ COVID fears

Automakers Renault, its alliance accomplice Nissan Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co face non permanent manufacturing unit closures in India on account of rising unrest amongst staff involved about rising COVID-19 infections.
Workers at Renault-Nissan’s automobile plant within the southern state of Tamil Nadu will go on strike on Wednesday as a result of their COVID-related security calls for haven’t been met, a union representing the employees advised the corporate in a letter on Monday.
Hyundai mentioned it might droop operations at its plant, additionally in Tamil Nadu, for 5 days beginning Tuesday, after a number of staff staged a short, sit-in protest on Monday amid rising instances within the state.

“The management agreed to close the plant after workers expressed concerns over safety after two employees succumbed to COVID,” E. Muthukumar, president of the Hyundai Motor India Employees Union, advised Reuters.
The unrest highlights the challenges corporations face in India amid an enormous wave of COVID-19 infections, an overwhelmed well being system and a scarcity of vaccines which is making staff extra fearful.
Tamil Nadu is without doubt one of the worst hit states with greater than 30,000 instances a day final week. The state, an auto hub referred to as India’s Detroit, has imposed a lockdown till May 31 however allowed some factories, together with auto vegetation, to proceed working.
The strike menace on the Renault-Nissan plant got here forward of a court docket listening to on Monday over allegations from staff that social distancing norms have been being flouted and manufacturing unit well being insurance policies didn’t sufficiently tackle the danger to lives.
Renault-Nissan has mentioned it’s following COVID-19 security protocols.
At the listening to, a lawyer for the employees argued that whereas the corporate had lowered the variety of shifts, manufacturing numbers had not been lower and the headcount remained the identical resulting in crowding on the manufacturing unit ground.
The firm advised the court docket it had lowered the workforce to round 5,000 from 8,000. It additionally mentioned it had vaccinated staff over 45 and was keen to inoculate these below 45 if vaccines have been made out there.
The two-judge bench presiding over the case mentioned that whereas the well being of staff is paramount, if industries go down there will probably be no place for them to work. They additionally mentioned the corporate should not benefit from the exemption granted by the state and will cut back manufacturing to fulfill solely crucial export orders.
“The production should have fallen … You also have to assuage the feeling of the workers,” mentioned the court docket, which is able to subsequent hear the case on May 31.
The union, which represents about 3,500 staff on the plant, mentioned in its May 24 letter to Renault-Nissan that staff wouldn’t return till they felt protected.

The staff’ calls for embody decrease manufacturing so there’s higher social distancing, vaccinations and better insurance coverage cowl to incorporate medical bills for his or her households.
Nissan, which owns a majority stake within the plant, declined to remark.