Saturday, July 30 2005 12:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Ending a month-long stalemate, the management and agitating workers of Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India reached an agreement late last night (July 29, 2005) under which all employees, including the four dismissed and 50 suspended, will be taken back.

The settlement brokered by the Haryana Government was reached late last night, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told a hurriedly-convened press conference past midnight in the presence of representatives of Honda management and workers' Union.

As per the agreement, all workers, including the four dismissed and 50 suspended were to join duty today, Hooda said in the presence of Honda's India chief Yuki Hiro Aschina.

The workers would not get salary during the period they were on strike, he said. Honda will also increase the wages of the employees and would not take any disciplinary action against workers who agitated against the company, Hooda said.

The month-old agitation in the Gurgaon-based Indo-Japanese Joint Venture company, spilled over to the roads on Monday last when the workers took out a protest march resulting in widespread violence and police action. The issue snowballed into a major political controversy finding an echo even in Parliament.

"We have amicably settled all issues and all are feeling happy. I congratulate the workers and Honda management for arriving at a settlement," Hooda said.

He said all employees working till June 27 would not be shown the door. Aschina said they were feeling happy that an "amicable" agreement has been reached.

"There was a dispute. We were facing a bit of difficulties then. But, now there is no dispute. We have agreed to work together," he said.

"Hope this agreement will prove that this is the best agreement we can reach," he added.

Honda spokesman Vivek Vishwanath said that workers would be taken back on certain conditions, without divulging details. "Inquiries will go on," he said.

Union leader Suresh Gaur said the workers were happy that the issue has been resolved.

"So many people tried to resolve the issue earlier. But it reached this stage. But we are happy that now it is resolved," he said.

"What we have reached is an important agreement and this will help in developing Haryana," Hooda said.

Asked about the FIRs filed against the workers, the Chief Minister said, "Law will take its own course."

Meanwhile, an official spokesman in Chandigarh claimed that the protesting workers have also agreed to give an "unconditional apology." They have also assured that the production level will be maintained in the factory, he added.