The city techies will not take the ‘pink slips’ lying down but will ‘WAIT’. Confused? A good number of sacked IT employees of an MNC have come together to start an outfit called Welfare Association of IT Employees (WAIT) to challenge their termination.
The disheartened employees, who are in touch with their counterparts in Bengaluru and Chennai, said that they will most likely pursue a legal route for justice.
The members, who met in Gachibowli on Saturday, have drawn up various plans to garner public support and build pressure on the company against pursuing unethical firing policies.
According to them, about 700 IT employees in various roles had lost their jobs in the city in the last two months.
“We are looking at a short-term as well as a long-term solution for this problem as the present situation has instilled fear in existing employees,” said an active member of the organisation and a senior IT employee who was forced out of the company a few weeks back.
“We will give representations to various government officials and Ministers. Parallel to it, we will organise protests and campaigns to create awareness among the public regarding the unethical ways of firing people and problems faced by them.”
Individuals and groups from the industry are also extending their support to the cause.
“In our Telangana State, IT companies have been exempted from some sections of the Shops and Establishments Act because of which they can remove employees without attracting any punishment,” said A. Ashish of the Forum for IT Professionals who will take part in WAIT’s activities.
“We can see that all the parameters of the company are healthy and they are exempted from paying taxes because they generate employment. If they are removing a large number of employees without even considering their hardships, the company should reveal through data on why they have taken such extreme step,” demanded Mr. Ashish.
