Nagpur: Trainee workers at Mahindra & Mahindra’s tractor manufacturing plant in Hingna staged a strike on Tuesday, partially affecting operations at one of the company’s key production facilities.The agitation was led by trainees who alleged that they perform the same duties as permanent employees but receive significantly lower wages and no long-term job security. The workers are demanding regularisation of their services, along with pay parity and employment benefits.More than 250 trainees, including women, gathered outside the plant gate in the MIDC Hingna industrial estate and blocked access to the facility. Riot control police were deployed to maintain order, though no untoward incident was reported.The protest ended after around three hours, following talks between workers’ representatives and the management. Addressing the protesters, union leader Ankur Junarkar said they would seek police permission for future demonstrations and continue the agitation if their demands remained unmet. He also insisted on a written assurance from the company.Repeated attempts by TOI to contact the company management for comment were unsuccessful.Speaking to TOI, Junarkar alleged that the trainees are being denied social security benefits such as provident fund and coverage under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme. He said the workers were seeking both a wage revision and improved conditions of employment.Union leaders claimed that a similar number of trainees remained inside the plant during the protest but had stopped work.
