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Prathidhwani appeals IT companies to avoid layoffs

Prathidhwani_Opinion

IT sector might be probably the worst affected domain due to the global pandemic, #Covid19. According to various studies and opinions of IT experts, 30% of IT employees would lose their jobs. We have already seen some signs of this in the past few days.

Those who work in the IT industry are unlike any other sector and do not have any form of social security. For most of the employees, a lion share of the monthly salary would be spent on various loans. Hence a sudden job loss would be a terrifying experience.

IT companies in Kerala, including Technopark and Infopark, have started showing signs of layoffs. While some companies pay extra allowances including work-from-home allowance, some companies do not even provide the necessary compensation. We have received many grievances in this regard. We have listed down some of the concerns shared with us by employees.

  1. In a shocking incident, Jinamol Joseph, an IT employee in Kochi committed suicide. There is no other reason being reported behind suicide than the fear of loss of work. This can be because of the stress on the work crisis while at home.
  2. Various companies leave their IT employees to contract work at other companies. This is done to meet the immediate job requirements, which is a good source of income for the hiring company. Some companies insist on forcefully asking employees to resign on termination of the contract.
  3. Since last November, employees who have been hired at various companies have not been given a letter of the probation period or probation extension. Many are forced to resign without any compensation. While working from home, their access is taken away. It is inhumane to say that even those with experience of more than 5 to 10 years are asked to resign based on performance issues.
  4. Some companies have asked the employees to go on Loss of Pay leave (LOP).
  5. A company closed its operation in Technopark after paying only two-month basic pay to employees.
  6. In January, February, and March 2020, new job offers were accepted, and many employees who resigned from their current job and completed the notice period in the old company were unable to join the new company.
  7. The Honorable Prime Minister and Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala have repeatedly appealed to refrain from the termination of employees during this crisis.

What we appeal to IT companies is that we can overcome this crisis without looking at layoffs as the only solution. All other possible means of solutions should be sought-after to overcome this situation. Prathidhwani urges companies to come to a stand that they will not lay off employees under any circumstances. We also appeal to the government to provide maximum assistance to IT employees and IT companies in times of crisis.

Regards,
Prathidhwani
Welfare Organisation Of IT Employees

#Let'sStandTogether_ Let'sOvercomeTheCrisis
#AvoidLayoffs