Maruti Suzuki has today said it has temporarily halted production at its Manesar plant in Haryana due to labour problems.

The management has locked out its workers for "sabotaging production" and causing quality problems  the company said.

The Maruti management has asked all its workers to sign  a bond of  "good conduct", undertaking not to sabotage production or resort to go-slow tactics, which may hamper production at the Manesar plant.

Last week, the management suspended four workers for instigating fellow workers to participate in an agitation.

The workers were stopped from entering the factory, until they sign a pledge, the company said.

The Manesar plant produces the company's bestseller hatchbacks and sedans like the Swift, Swift Dzire, A-Star and SX4.. Maruti has another factory at Gurgaon, also in Haryana.

Maruti has been having constant problems with its workers at the Manesar plant. This is the third such dispute that has affected production in the last three months. (See: Maruti sacks 11 as strike cripples Manesar plant)

In June 2011, the Haryana government had banned the ongoing strike at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant, near Gurgaon  Maruti Suzuki management welcomed the state government's move and said it vindicated the company's stand that the strike by the workers was illegal.(See: Strike banned at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant)

Maruti Suzuki had a confrontation with the workers at its Manesar plant, as the newly-formed Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU) had decided to boycott the official union election slated for 16 July. (See: Fresh trouble brewing at Maruti's Manesar plant?)

Maruti saw its total sales drop by 8.8 per cent to 80,298 units in June, its lowest sales since July 2009. (See: Maruti Suzuki sales fall 8.8 per cent)