British company fires 93, logs out

BANGALORE: It's curtains for the UK-based telecom company Belair Communications in India. The company, which started BPO operations in Bangalore about a year ago, is said to have terminated all its 93 employees without notice and shut shop.

The episode came to light when the dismissed employees approached the Union of ITeS Professionals (Unites) on pending salaries and incentives. They have also moved the labour commissioner seeking justice.

The company closed down on June 10 after giving its employees oral notice. Unites India general secretary Karthik Shekhar says Belair was outsourcing cellphone sales work (telemarketing).

Interestingly, Rajat Ohrie, CEO of Belair India, was sacked through email for "slandering Belair Communications Ltd's name to vendors and sales agents". Ohrie told Unites he was fired "for fighting for the rights of the employees".

Belair officials could not be contacted. "We have even been approached by a transport contractor who has an outstanding of Rs 13 lakh to be paid by Belair for his services," Shekhar said. "We are willing to discuss such problems with Nasscom and the Call Centre Association of India," Shekhar said.