For workers at Manesar, even better conditions leave much to be desired

In the bustling Labour Chowk of Manesar's Industrial Model Township, Ramesh, a 39-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, and his friend, Chand, 27, share a moment of levity.

-  SARTHAK CHOUDHURY

They had queued up for a meal at a mobile canteen, only to find the kitchen not yet ready for service. Their laughter echoes amid the throng of workers, all eager to earn their day's wage. "Isn't it amusing how our paths crossed?" Ramesh muses. "I studied at an industrial training institute (ITI) in Pusa, while he learned of an opportunity through his village friends. Despite his lack of formal schooling, we both found ourselves employed by the same firm 12 years ago." The irony of their shared circumstance is neither lost on them nor on the many others who crowd Labour Chowk - to work and earn as much as they can to survive the day.

Manesar, part of the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency, emerged into prominence when the late Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi decided to establish a Maruti plant in 1970. Over the decades, the plant has evolved into a vital cog in the wheel of the NCR industrial hub.

Yet, beneath the surface of this success story, the reality for many workers remains grim, especially regarding jobs and working conditions. A contract worker in Maruti Suzuki's assembly line painted a stark picture of the disparity between regular and contractual workers. "The press shop, weld shop, and assembly are the major parts of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM)...