Kochi: In an alleged violation of Indian labour laws, a US-based healthcare analytics firm on Friday terminated around 900 medical coding professionals at its India operations without prior notice. According to employees at the company's Kochi office, they were informed about the layoffs only when they reported for work on Friday morning.
Following protests by the employees and intervention by the Kerala government, the company agreed to put the termination process on hold pending discussions with the Labour Department.
The affected employees, spread across the company's offices in Kochi and Kozhikode, alleged that they were dismissed without prior notice or adherence to the notice period stipulated in their employment contracts.
As protests erupted outside the company's Kochi office, Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas intervened and sought immediate action from the Labour Department.
The Kerala Labour Department subsequently stepped in to examine the legality of the mass layoffs and facilitate a resolution.
Uma Thomas said she had spoken to Labour Minister V. Sivankutty (or the correct minister if applicable; please verify the name, as the copy mentions "Bindhu Krishna") after meeting the protesting employees.
Speaking to reporters, Thomas said she had also held discussions with the company's representatives in Kochi and conveyed that such abrupt terminations would severely affect the lives of the employees.
"They have agreed to discuss the matter and provide compensation in accordance with the directions of the labour officer," she said.
The MLA added that the immediate priority was to ensure that the employees continued in service.
"There has been intervention from the Labour Department. The Labour Secretary will arrive on July 6 and hold discussions," she said.
Labour Department officials said they had held talks with the company's representatives in Kochi and that the termination process had been kept on hold.
According to the officials, the company assured them that any further decision regarding the layoffs would be taken only after the Labour Secretary's meeting with the management.
The company did not respond to media queries on the issue.
