Belair logs out of Bangalore

Tuesday, July 11, 2006 (New Delhi):

UK-based telecom company Belair Communications has drawn shutters on its call centre, prompting the workers' union to move the Labour Commissioner.

All employees of Belair Communications India Pvt Ltd, a BPO provider (captive call centre) and subsidiary of Belair Communications UK Ltd, were told last month, without prior notice, to stop coming to office.

The company has also been accused of not paying salaries and incentives to its employees from May.

Complaint lodged

The Union for ITES Professionals (UNITES) has lodged a complaint with the Labour Commissioner, seeking its intervention in conducting an enquiry and initiating appropriate action against the firm under the Industrial Dispute Act 1947.

Belair UK Director Haydn Isted sacked Belair India CEO Rajat Ohrie through e-mail last month.

Ohrie told UNITES that his services have been terminated for fighting for the rights of the employees.

Headquartered in Bangalore, UNITES has offices in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Shekhar said Belair India was closed without serving any notices to the workers. He further added that the employees have been left in the lurch and are virtually on the streets. (with PTI inputs)