The Kerala Chief Minister highlighted concerns about employees facing excessive workloads, threats of dismissal, and denial of labour rights, particularly in the IT industry….reports Asian Lite News
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasised the importance of strictly adhering to labour laws across all sectors of the country, including the IT sector.
Speaking in the state Assembly, Vijayan highlighted concerns about employees facing excessive workloads, threats of dismissal, and denial of labour rights, particularly in the IT industry.
His remarks came in response to a Calling Attention motion about the recent death of Anna Sebastian, a 26-year-old chartered accountant who allegedly died due to work-related stress just four months after joining Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune.
Vijayan reiterated the need for strict enforcement of labour laws, noting that companies operating in Kerala’s IT parks are required to follow all state labour regulations as part of their lease agreements. If these laws are violated, employees have the right to seek legal recourse.
He also pointed out that while many companies have adopted work-from-home arrangements following the COVID-19 pandemic, current labour laws do not address the duration of such arrangements, leaving gaps in protections for employees.
In response to the tragic case of Anna Sebastian, whose mother accused EY of imposing excessive workloads and long working hours on her daughter, Vijayan assured that the concerns raised would be conveyed to the Union government.
EY has denied the allegations. Sebastian, who had recently passed her CA exams, died in July, sparking further debate over workplace stress and the need for stronger labor protections.
Last month, the Pune Labour commissioner’s team conducted an inspection of the Ernst & Young (EY) office in Pune.
In response to allegations of exploitative work environment, senior officials from the Maharashtra Labour Department conducted a physical inspection at EY’s Pune office on Tuesday.
Shailendra Pol, Additional Labour Commissioner, Pune and his team checked several documents related to Anna at the office. They requested EY to submit the same documents to the department. The documents include information on working rules, welfare policies, and extra working hour policies etc.
“We have checked the working conditions and current situations at the office. We sought information about the working rules, welfare policy of the company, and policies for extra working hours,” Pol stated.
“We have also reviewed the appointment letter of the deceased and the rules and regulations mentioned in it. Once we receive all the requested information, we will submit a report to the Central government, after which they will take further action,” he added.
The senior official of the labour department also claimed the Pune has operated since 2007 without Shop act license but EY has recently applied for the same.
“During our inspection on Monday we have found that the company did not have a license under Shop & Establishment Act Licence since its incorporation in 2007. It is an online process to obtain the shop act license. We have also got the information that they recently applied for it. But we will be sending a show cause notice to the EY Pune office. After the reply further action will be taken,” Shailendra Pol, Additional Labour Commissioner Pune said.
This inspection by the labour department comes after Anna’s mother alleged that her daughter’s death was caused by the excessive workload and pressure at EY. The Union Labour Ministry has taken up the complaint, and a thorough investigation is underway.
CPI (M) marches in solidarity with Palestine
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) on Monday condemned India’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict, accusing the government of “helping Israel in America’s conspiracy.”
The Himachal Pradesh unit of CPI(M) held a demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Shimla, claiming that similar demonstrations were being carried out nationwide.
Hamas had launched a terror attack on Israel on 7th October last year, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel responded with a strong counter-offensive, targeting Hamas, though the increasing civilian casualties have raised concerns over the humanitarian situation. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
Kashmir Singh Thakur, a member of CPI(M)’s State Secretariat, alleged that India is assisting Israel by supplying weapons.
“For the past year, Israel has been committing genocide in Palestine, resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 children and women. Hospitals and educational institutions in Palestine are being destroyed. This is an American conspiracy, and the Indian government is helping Israel by selling weapons,” he stated.
Thakur further criticised India’s position, suggesting the government is being disingenuous about its stance on Palestine. “The CPI(M) condemns this alliance. India is acting duplicitously, showing solidarity with Palestine at times and siding with Israel at others, while ultimately supporting America’s conspiracy. The Indian government is complicit in this agenda, and this war must be stopped immediately.”
CPI(M) also held demonstrations in various districts of Uttar Pradesh, showing solidarity with Palestine and urging the Indian government to stop supplying weapons to Israel.
In a post on X, the party stated: “On the anniversary of the attack on Palestine in Gaza, demonstrations were held across districts in Uttar Pradesh under a nationwide call by leftist parties, expressing solidarity with Palestine and demanding an end to the war, and for the Indian government to cease supplying weapons.”
The party also claimed that in Kanpur, the police prevented a protest and shut down the CPI(M) office.
“In Kanpur, the police did not allow the demonstration and forcibly closed the CPI(M) office, though a memorandum was later submitted and a seminar held,” the post concluded. (ANI)
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