No salary for three months and then pink slips for 44 IT engineers
Indian Express: After working for three months without salaries, one day they mustered courage to demand their due salary. But instead of salary slips the 44 engineers were given pink slips by this IT firm.
While Bavdhan-based IT firm Senate Technologies said the decision was triggered by the ongoing economic meltdown which has grounded its work, the fired employees are refusing to sign the exit form.
The engineers are mostly freshers. All 44 were apparently recruited on April 15. Initially, they were asked to work for a month without pay. Desperate for jobs, the youngsters readily agreed as they were also promised a salary of Rs 8,000 after the first month of their joining.
However, two months later when the engineers anxiously awaited their salaries, not a penny came their way. They were told that salaries would be paid shortly as the company had no funds due to ongoing recession. “This promise was made time and again. On July 21, we decided to approach the firm’s CEO Sandeep Sarode. However, in the meeting the CEO accused us of insulting the company by not supporting it in bad times. He said in view of this the company management had decided to fire us. “We don’t need you, you may leave the company immediately — were his exact words,” said Soumya Sharma, of Pimple Saudagar, a BE in information technology.
Thereafter, all 44 of them were asked to fill up the exit forms which they refused to do until their salaries were given. “Even when we were asked to leave, they refused to pay. All this while they have been telling all lies… that our salaries would be paid in a day or two, but they never kept their word. How do we trust them now? The exit form mentions that our salaries will be paid 45 days after we leave the job,” said Soumya.
However, CEO Sarode said they will pay the salaries before August 10 provided the sacked employees fill up the exit forms. “This is a normal procedure in the company,” he said. Sarode said the salaries could not be paid because their client stopped providing them work. “The removal of the employees is just the reflection of the ongoing recession,” he said.
Since July 21 when the gates were slammed on them, they have been making rounds of the company everyday for their salaries, but to no avail. “I joined this firm after I lost my previous job where I was paid Rs 17,000 per month. For the last three months, I had to borrow money from my family staying in Madhya Pradesh,” said Raj Maheshwari. He came down to Pune from Indore two months ago. Maheshwari said he needs money as he has to pay a monthly rent of Rs 3,000 for his flat. “They keep promising, but are not giving our salary,” he said.
The firm apparently has 60 employees. “Initially, the firm dealt in IT-net projects, BPO call centres and later in KPO which included PDF to doc conversion,” said Soumya.
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