Lockdown: IT firm gets labour dept notice for layoffs in Pune
The Labour Commission office acted on a complaintfiled by National Information Technology Employees Senate(NITES), an organisation working for the welfare and benefitsof employees in IT industry.
The company, however, denied the allegations andclaimed that it has given 100 per cent salaries on time to allemployees and not laid-off anyone.
"We received complaints from employees of HexawareTechnologies, Hinjawadi regarding non-payment of salaries forthree months and termination of employees to maintain theprofitability of the business amid COVID pandemic. The companyhas also notified the employees that the salary will stop withimmediate effect," read the complaint filed by NITES.
In a notice, the government Labour Officer S H Chobheinstructed the company to go through thestate government'sresolution, dated March 31, and take appropriate steps andapprise the labour commissioner's office.
The notice, dated May 15, asked the firm to notterminate any employee and to not reduce salaries, failingwhich legal action would be taken.
In a statement,Vishwanath Joshi, Chief PeopleOfficer, Hexaware Technologies, said, "We have clarified tothe Labour department that this communication is completelydistorted and unfounded. At Hexaware, we have paid 100 percent salaries on time and there have been no layoffs."
Without specifying a number, Joshi said employees havecome out of projects as a part of client initiated ramp downbut none of them have been laid off, and added all employeeshave been paid 100 per cent compensation.
Harpreet Saluja, general secretary, NITES, said theaction by the company had put at risk the pay and jobs of morethan 200 employees.
The company has violated the state government'sdirections, rules and regulations, Saluja added.
"NITES demands strict action as the organization hasfailed to follow the basic policies of human rights andviolated the Maharashtra government's rules and regulations,"reads the complaint.
The firm termed the allegations "completely untrue".
"Most of the employees who are in between projects areattending client interviews, undergoing re-skilling,upskilling programs, attending coaching session withcompetency managers etc. We have not communicated anyintention of termination," Joshi said. SPK AABNM BNM