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Maratha bandh in Pune: IT firms compromised employee safety by remaining open, says FITE
FITE said it urges companies to make clear communications and request them to give a day off in such situations where employee’s security is a concern.
In a strongly-worded press note, the forum for IT employees (FITE - Maharashtra) has expressed sharp disappointment with IT companies in Pune keeping their establishments open on Thursday and “risking life of IT employees.”
FITE Maharashtra president Pravanjit Mane said that on the occasion of Maharashtra bandh, most of the transport, offices, colleges, schools, and industrial parks were closed. However, IT industries kept their establishments open and “did not share clear communication on offices being closed.”
This, the press note said, put employees under huge pressure to be available for work. In some companies, the employees were advised to come early and leave around 5 pm without keeping in account that the bandh could turn violent by the evening, the press note said.
The press note said that almost 50% of female employees were under tremendous pressure whether to be available or take a day off.
FITE said it urges companies to make clear communications and request them to give a day off in such situations where employee’s security is a concern.
It also called upon the state government “to play crucial role in such events and share advisory to companies which have huge workforce in cities like Pune and Mumbai.”
On Thursday, some IT firms such as Sunguard, Syntel and Persistent were taken by surprise as mobs of protestors stormed into their offices and forced them to close their operations for their day.
