A look at the technopark layoff controversy
November 2nd, 2008
In Malayalam we have interesting and intelligent proverbs (”Pazhanchollukal”). Probably the most used proverb these days is,
“Kaala pettennu kettappol kayareduthu”
It is very difficult to translate it. It is something like “He made necessary arrangements when he heard his bull has delivered a baby”. Kerala government is adopting the same approach when they ordered the Labour department to investigate into the dismissals of IT professionals from a technopark company (IBS Software Services). Without wasting a minute the Labour commissioner reached the Technopark company at lightning speed. But then he realized that it is a Saturday and no one is at IBS! 
Similarly there is another interesting proverb in Malayalam,
“Kakshathil ullathu pokaruthu pakshe utharathil ullathu edukkanam”
Again translating this is not easy. It is something like - “I want to take what is on the door top but I don’t want to loose what I have under my armpit”. Sorry guys, I know the translation sucks, but you get the idea. This is the same situation our “poor” IT guys in Kerala are in. They want Rs. 25,000+ salary, excellent working conditions and the ability to switch companies in a day. But when they are no longer needed by a company, it is like - “we need rights, we need unions, mommeeeee”. Grow up guys! You signed the employee agreement when you joined the company which clearly said that you can be dismissed with a 2 month salary.
Now don’t get me wrong here. I was never a big fan of Kerala based IT companies. I had earlier written about their bad business practices. For example, GTECH is a sort of “IT company union” which promotes and enforces anti employee rules such as “locking period” and “no objection certificate”.
I see that a lot of IT guys are talking about unions and stuff like that. It is like inviting a devil to your home. Or to use another proverb,
Eliye pedichu illam chuduka
This one I can translate better - Burn down the house to kill the rat.
Again this whole controversy can lead to another dangerous precedent - the taking over of Technopark by political parties. I also wonder what will happen when a real recession hits Technopark or the IT industry!
In case you are wondering why layoffs are happening without any recession here, Check out the following video.
Of course I am kidding (legal disclaimer on the video!)
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November 2nd, 2008 at 6:31 am
Exactly the same views I wrote in my blog
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:24 am
Here is a simple example in case any of the idiots don’t understand the situation.
Suppose you start a new shop. You have 3 employees with you with a clause that you can leave them by giving 3 months salary. Now sometime later your business goes down and decides to reduce employee strength to 2. Now suddenly all parties demand security. Is that feasible? Is that what is happening in shops around Kerala?
I hate idiots.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Clap Clap… Good words and Well said…
We need malayalees like you…
November 4th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Things are heating up ….