Only 100 techies turn up to protest layoffs

“I may get a call from HR anytime now asking me to resign. They threaten us that we will be blocked by NASSCOM and that we won’t get a good certificate from our employers,” said one IT employee from W
IT employees gathered at Freedom Park to protest mass layoff on Saturday | Pushkar V
IT employees gathered at Freedom Park to protest mass layoff on Saturday | Pushkar V

BENGALURU: “I may get a call from HR anytime now asking me to resign. They threaten us that we will be blocked by NASSCOM and that we won’t get a good certificate from our employers,” said one IT employee from Wipro. He was among the hundred people gathered at Freedom Park on Saturday, protesting the mass layoffs by IT firms in the city.

IT Employees Union president Kumara Swamy A C said they have submitted a memorandum to IT Minister Priyank Kharge and Labour Minister Santhosh Lad, asking them to stop mass layoffs. “Over past five months, companies like Infosys, Wipro, TCS, Tech Mahindra, CGI, Capgemini and Cognizant have fired thousands of employees,” Kumar told Express.
IT companies in Karnataka do not come under the Industrial Disputes Act and this is where the problem lies, claim the employees. Shiva (name changed) is 48 and a SAP consultant in Wipro. “We are not recognised as workmen in the ID Act. We can’t form unions. Where do we go? Already 16,000 of 1.8 lakh employees have been laid off but none of them show as layoffs. They are resignations. If the IT companies are under this Act, they have to inform the labour commissioner about every employee who is fired,” he said.

Shabeer (name changed) is a solution architect at Wipro. “Their growth plans are quarter on quarter and not sustainable. It should be long term. They set unachievable targets and then say they have compliance issues with us like punctuality or under performance,” he said.
Employees spoke about depression, suicidal tendencies and lack of avenues to support. Sunil (name changed) is 37 and is a SAP consultant at Wipro but has seven dependents. “I have an EMI of `65,000 for my flat. If I lose my job what should I do with my children, wife, ageing mother and mother-in-law? Every morning I wake up with the fear of being fired. We have been told to resign but are among the few who are resisting,” he said.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com