Friends you all are aware that Information Technology (IT) sector is one of the biggest employer along with BPOs (Call Centres). But it has come in the open that all is not fair and straight in their employment process. Three months back Maharashtra State Govt had appointed a committee, which was given the task of looking into complaints of exploitation in IT sector. They have found enough mal practices like with holding severance pay of retrenched employees, have unfair bond periods for new employees when they are hired, and keeping original documents of people recruited through the campus interviews.
At the first meeting during this week , about the IT sector Engineers and other employees grievance redressal committee, which is also looking into complaints of BPO sector, the committee asked the state labour department to direct IT companies across the state to stop enforcing unfair bond terms and to return the original documents of new recruits in 30 days.
This committee has received several complaints from employees about unfair recruitment clauses- many are asked to pay a penalty of Rs 75,000 to 1 lakh, if they quit before completion of bond period, a small portion of their salary is withheld as deposit till end of bond term, and employees are not paid the first month’s salary in lieu of the deposit.
This committee is going to propose for a special legislation to regulate jobs and enforce labour laws in IT companies. The committee has also asked the labour department to issue notices to the IT companies against whom the committee has received complaints from retrenched employees, who were sacked unfairly.
“The IT sector is one of the biggest job providers for the youngsters and many of them face problems during recruitments and with the bonds that they are asked to serve. We will look into all these complaints.” This was the statement of one of the committee member.
A spokeperson for the Labour Dept said that “ the committee mandate is to take up the grievances and recommend measures to the State Govt. As this sector is the most sought after job market for educated youngsters in the state, but due to tough working conditions and many times un regulated job terms give rise to lot of complaints.” Labour dept is going to pot on line portal for the IT sector employees, who can lodge their complaints there.
This Committee is headed by Labour Commissioner and has govt nominated members from Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, there are trade representatives also in this committee.
I, for one. was under the impression that IT is most organised and professional sector in the country, but never knew that it has got employment terms which are against the guidelines issued by the govt, and these terms and conditions of the employment are resented by the employees, but due to lack of response from the govt department, the employee had no where to go, at least now the affected employees have one forum, which can look into their complains. Hopefully this might lead to IT companies modifying their employment terms/conditions for the employees.
A good beginning by the govt, hope they keep the pressure.
What do you say my friends.
Awaiting comments/feed backs/ views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
13th June 2019
R. N. Mungale.
Yes. Good beginning by the government.