All India IT and ITES Employees’ Union noted with faith and hope that on 20th March 2020, Ministry of Labour & Employment – Government of India clearly advised all employers not to terminate any employee from job or not to reduce / stop their wages.
Again on 29th March Government of India vide order No 40 -3/2020-DM-I(A) of Home Secretary, GOI has issued additional directions under Section 10(2)(i) of the Disaster Management Act 2005 which clear mandate that all the
employers shall make payment of wages of their workers at their workplace on the due date, without any deduction for the period their establishments are under closure during the lockdown.
Unfortunately a few of the major IT companies have issued unlawful retrenchment notice to hundreds of its employees of different level. On 24th March Fareportal India Pvt Ltd, has terminated more than 500 employees from its Gurgaon office and on 28th March they have terminated more than 300 employees from its Pune office. On 7th April 2020 ARC Document Solutions India Pvt Ltd has terminated 8 employees from Kolkata office. On 10th April Amdocs BPO in Phursungi, Pune has sent termination letter to 150 employees and on that same day Teleperformance Global Services Pvt Ltd, has served a notice of termination to more than 300 employees from its Kolkata office.
The AIITEU strongly condemned any kind of retrenchment during the lock down period or after that. We believe that all the MNCs or other companies must extend their support to their employees during this crisis. Our Union has sought for immediate intervention of Labour department, Government of West Bengal, Government of Haryana, Government of Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, the Union has extended its legal support to all the people working in IT and ITES sector at any places in India. In case anyone needs any legal assistance at any place in India, AIITEU should be contacted immediately for legal assistance. The AIITEU further requested all the people working in IT and ITES sector, to oppose the forced resignation and get ready to fight for their rights.
Although we have sent letters to all concerned authority in State and Central Government including the Labour Secretary, Government of India to stand by the employees of IT and ITES sector. But action on the part of the Government is awaited till date. Is it a planned / intentional gap between the statement and action to ensure ease of making business?
Still we believe that conscience of the leaders of the government will prevail and they will intervene to ensure life and livelihood of employees of IT & ITES, who are contributing a lot for the economic growth of the country. Otherwise no other alternative will be left upon us than to resort to path of movement even amidst the catastrophic phase of disaster.
Solicit support from all news media with widest coverage.
Signed,
Saubhik Bhattacharya
General Secretary