Kerala HC orders protection for Muthoot staff

KOCHI: The High Court on Thursday directed the police to provide protection to the employees of Muthoot Financial Services who are willing to work defying a section of employees who are on  strike. The order was issued on a petition filed by 10 employees of the firm stating that the striking employees are preventing them from attending office.

A section of employees affiliated to CITU are on strike for the past few days demanding better wages and working conditions. The Kerala Non-Banking Finance Companies and The Association of Gold Loan Companies in India have expressed concern over the strike disrupting the functioning of the branches of the NBFC in the state. Speaking to reporters, Thomas George, Muthoot chairman, and N.C. Kurien, vice-chairman, said the government should take immediate steps to resolve the issue as it sends a wrong message on investment climate in the state. They said the strike was without any justification by a minority of staff members with the support from unruly elements from outside.

TiE Kerala also expressed concern over the strike called by a section of employees. "If strikes disrupting functioning of business establishments are allowed to continue, they would hamper the state's image in terms of Ease of Doing Business and will further dampen the employment scenario in the state", it said.

The CITU Ernakulam district committee meanwhile has asked individuals and organisations not to be misled by propaganda of NBFC and cited series violations of pacts on the part of the management.