IT sector employees urge state govt to stop Illegal layoffs

The Karnataka government on Monday said it is contemplating legal aid to information technology sector employees in the state after they called for action to stop "illegal" layoffs in this crucial service industry.

"Some members of the employees' associations met me today (Monday). I assured them of all help. I advised them to bring all representatives of IT employees associations to the next meeting to discuss their problems," Information and Technology Minister Piryank Kharge said.

  The Forum for IT Employees members met the Minister at Vikasa Soudha here and appealed to him to intervene to stop, what they called, "illegal layoffs by IT companies". The forum claimed 56,000 layoffs across the country.

"I told them I need to talk with all stakeholders before taking a decision. I will talk to the employers as well as staff representatives. I cannot take a decision without holding talks with all stakeholders," the Minister said.

He said he advised the Forum for IT Employees to help the state government understand their problems.

"The state government has no legal power to intervene in this matter but that doesn't stop the government from looking at options to mitigate IT employees' problems," Kharge said.