“Safety flaws in automotive supply chains”

GURUGRAM: Calling for introspection into the safety protocols of various supply chain companies in the colossal automotive manufacturing ecosystem, a study by the Safe In India Foundation (SII) highlighted gaps in the policy framework of 10 automotive giants to ensure safe working conditions for workers employed in their auxiliary units.
The findings highlight a “lack of respect for the lives of workers and the conditions in which they work”. Calling the auto giants “role models”, he says they must set very high standards and “demand respect” for human security in their supply chains.

According to the report, the SII team helped more than 2,600 injured workers from 2016-21 – 440 of them were in 2020-21, a year of reduced manufacturing activity due to the pandemic – in sectors of the automobile manufacturing of Gurgaon-Manesar and Faridabad. . He says about 70% of them lost fingers or even hands due to factory accidents, resulting in permanent disability.
“Over 90% of auto workers that SII has helped report being injured at factories supplying one or more of the region’s three largest OEMs (original equipment manufacturers),” the report said.
The SII report is the result of its analysis of factory accidents and its research into the policies and practices of the largest Indian OEMs, or auto giants. One of his main observations on the policy framework is that the safety policies of most automotive majors do not explicitly say that they cover contract / casual / temporary workers in their own factories and that seven out of 10 companies do not. have no supplier code of conduct. align with the National Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC).
According to the report, nearly 90% of the injured workers that SII assisted and analyzed were migrants, from the UP, Bihar and Odisha. Of these, 65% were contract workers and 95% were not affiliated with any union that could fight for their rights. In addition, the report reveals that 59% of accidents occur on a single type of machine: the mechanical press.
The Company of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) recognized the problem and said the industry should unite to ensure safe working conditions for workers by drawing on best practices from auto giants like Maruti, Tata and Bajaj. “Worker safety is good for business, good for productivity. There have been a few good practices, but many more are expected to happen. Here are some areas we have found important to focus on in our engagement with member OEMs: how to share best practices in safety, how to engage with all levels of the supply chain and how to focus on the issue. of the Supplier Code of Conduct, ”said Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM.
Vinnie Mehta, Managing Director of the Indian Association of Automotive Component Manufacturers (ACMA), added: “The pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of HR for an organization – you have to take care of employees because they are important to business continuity and productivity. . ”