Pune: About 400 jobs at stake at Tata Technologies, complaint filed with Labour commissioner
Sumit Singh
Pune, July 24, 2020: In a major move to retrench employees, IT company Tata Technologies, Hinjawadi, has benched about 400 employees, and has also sent employees forcefully on leave without pay till December 31, 2020. Due to this, the salaries and jobs of more than 400 employees are at risk.
“The company will strive to have you deployed for any assignments/ projects depending on the requirements of its clients as on 31 December 2020. In the event, there are no such projects/ assignments as far as your engagement or involvement is concerned as on 31 December 2020, the Company shall reserve the right to terminate your employment with immediate effect in accordance with your employment agreement and applicable law,” reads an email sent to employees by the company.
The IT employees union National Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has complained with the Pune Labour Commissioner in Wakdewadi in this regard. “The company has violated the Maharashtra state Government’s directions, rules and regulations issued on March 31, 2020. The employees have received communication from HR regarding immediate resignation or six months of furlough (leave without pay). The employees are under huge pressure and trauma as they are struggling to find new jobs under lockdown,” said Harpreet Saluja, General Secretary, NITES.
He further said, “Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata on Thursday said retrenchment of employees by Indian companies in these COVID-19 unprecedented times is not the solution. It was also claimed that Tata Group has not fired any staff, while several Indian companies have cut workforce because of lack of cash flow after the countrywide lockdown. Hence, we request Tata Technologies to follow what is being claimed and stop the furlough with immediate effect. Forcing employees to resign under lockdown is against Government’s directions and also against the work ethics.”
When contacted by Punekarnews.in, a spokesperson for Tata Technologies said, “The pandemic situation arising from the spread of the COVID-19 continues to have an unprecedented impact across industries including our Client organisations which in turn has impacted us. In response to the changed business environment, we are focusing on making Tata Technologies a nimble, responsive and flexible organisation. Consequently, we have undertaken several actions including optimisation of our bench resources. A limited portion of such employees on bench [and the number is lesser than 400] have been requested to go on paid leave followed by unpaid leave. However, we have made sure that they continue to be on the rolls of the Company and are also covered under the Company’s health insurance policy along with their immediate family members till 31st December’20. In case they opt to not take the option, a statutory redundancy process would be applicable. An overwhelming majority of such employees have opted to go on paid/ unpaid leave option as it allows them to be on the rolls and also covered under group Mediclaim which is important under current circumstances. We intend to bring them back on full-time roles if demand comes back, as anticipated.”
