BEFI Condemns CorroHealth Layoffs, Demands Reinstatement of Employees

Kochi: The Bank Employees Federation of India has condemned the mass layoffs and closure of offices by CorroHealth, describing the company's actions as unacceptable.

The federation alleged that the company unilaterally withdrew from the agreements reached during negotiations and barred employees who reported for work from entering the office, calling the move a serious affront to established industrial relations and the discussion process.

The federation further claimed that the CorroHealth episode was the latest example of the Central government's pro-corporate policies and what it described as anti-worker labour laws.

According to BEFI, the new labour laws require establishments employing more than 300 workers to obtain prior government approval before carrying out mass retrenchments or shutting down operations. The federation said trade unions had warned during nationwide protests against the labour codes introduced under the banner of "Ease of Doing Business" that such legal changes would make it easier for employers to lay off workers while weakening job security and trade union rights.

Demanding immediate action, BEFI called on CorroHealth to withdraw the mass layoffs and reinstate all employees without conditions. It also urged the company to reopen its offices in Kochi and Kozhikode, and to strictly comply with the Labour Department's status quo directive.

BEFI State President N Sanil Babu and General Secretary Jerin K John also urged the Central and State governments to intervene immediately to safeguard workers' rights and end policies that they said favour corporate interests over employees.