Pune, September 11: BAJAJ Auto Limited’s (BAL) assurance that the management would continue its dialogue with the workers’ union and “to ensure all legitimate interests of its workmen to be taken care of,” has brought no light into the lives of 2,730 workers who are being given six-day salaries but not allowed to report to work.

The workers are waiting for the second meeting likely to be held this week with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar before they intensify their agitations. BAL stopped production at its Akurdi plant on September 1.

“We are not allowed to work and punching of our cards has been stopped,” said president of Bharatiya Kamgar Sena Suryakant Mahadik. The workers said they are feeling the heat already and are uneasy about the future even though managing director Rajiv Bajaj has said they would not close down the plant. They are unsure for how long they will get their wages. Many said banks were refusing them loans be it for their children’s education, short term credits, while grocers were not giving them any credit.

“We have lost our credibility. Our workers who are seeking housing or personal loans or even buying groceries on credit are not getting any,’’ said president of Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatana Dilip Pawar, adding that if issues are not resolved, they would intensify their agitation. “We may call for a bandh as this would deter other industries from taking such steps,’’ he added.

He said the management has “very smartly handled the issue.’’ BAL has agreed to pay all workmen their full wages for six days a week instead of five and a half days per week as per the September 5, 2003 settlement but the workers have not got any written agreement that they would do so till their retirement as was put up in the Mumbai meeting at Sahyadri guest house in the presence of Pawar.

The next action will be planned only after discussions with Kamgar Kruti Samiti and Shramik Ekta Mahasangh on September 14. There has been support from other industrial units. The workers felt the government must look into issues raised by BAL on taxes and octroi.