By IANS,
Chennai : Heavy truck maker Kamaz Vectra Motors Ltd’s plant at Hosur has been shut down by the Tamil Nadu Factories Inspectorate for operating without a proper licence, an official said Monday.
“We found workers were listed under the names of two companies in the same premises. This is not as per the law. Further, the company does not have a licence to operate,” the inspectorate official told IANS on condition of anonymity.
The inspection took place Saturday as workers at the plant have been on a sit-in strike for over 15 days demanding absorption by Kamaz Vectra.
According to inspectorate officials, Kamaz Vectra had applied for renewal of the factory licence which has not been granted till date.
Kamaz Vectra is a 51:49 joint venture between Russian heavy duty truck maker Kamaz and the UK-headquartered Vectra group having business interests in Europe, India and other places.
Kamaz and Vectra last April inked a joint venture agreement to roll out Kamaz trucks from Hosur factory and early this year the company started production at its Hosur plant.
The plant was earlier operated by Tatra Vectra Motors Ltd.
A Kamaz Vectra official said the joint venture company took over the factory premises, plant and machinery from Tatra Vectra while workers were to be transferred to another group company Vectra Advanced Engineering Private Ltd.
Objecting to the transfer, workers resorted to a sit-in strike demanding their absorption by the truck maker.
Several attempts by IANS to reach top officials of the company went in vain. A questionnaire emailed to it requesting clarifications and the group’s view point remained unacknowledged.