THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the Tamil Nadu Government’s recent clarification that there was no bar on trade union in IT sector has triggered discussions on these lines at IT parks in the state, many techies fear of punitive actions from employers. The techies strongly feel that a forum of techies was highly essential as issues like termination of jobs without prior notice or compensation, disallowing enough medical leaves and non-payment of provident fund persist in the IT sector.
Though efforts were made by the CPM earlier to form trade unions in the IT sector in 2014, it did not gain much momentum. However, the clarification of the Tamil Nadu Government in a court that IT employees are free to form trade unions had revived talks on these lines.
“Obviously the development in Chennai is being hotly discussed among the techies these days as there are no forums for taking up denial of basic rights of employees. But we do not prescribe to the present trade union format, but a forum that could educate the employees of their rights and help them fight for it. But Many techies fear to speak about it in the open as they fear of punitive action from employees," said Technopark employee.
There have been instances of even big firms laying off employees in large numbers with out any notice. Instances of employees being denied minimum maternity leave or being smoked out of job in case of medical leaves are happening in the state IT sector, especially by small scale firms, sources at Technopark and Infopark said.
Reacting to the fresh developments Group of Technology Companies chairman K Nandakumar said that; “The IT workforce in the state has enjoyed excellent support from its employers, which the employees reciprocate. IT being a resource driven industry, the employers continue to strive towards taking care of needs of the professionals. All companies have sound internal mechanisms in place to address any concerns of their employees.”
