Bangalore-based BPO shuts shop abruptly

British telecom firm Belair Communications has closed down its captive call centre in Bangalore abruptly, leaving its 93 employees in the lurch.

This is the third firm to close Indian operations in the last two months. British energy firm Powergen closed down its Indian BPO operations. Last month, IT major Apple Computer also decided to close its Bangalore development centre.

The Union for ITES professionals (UNITES) has lodged a complaint with the Karnataka labour commissioner seeking action against Belair under the Industrial Disputes Act 1947. The company, which began its operations a year ago, has not specified any reason for terminating the services of employees or closing down its operations.

The company reportedly closed down on June 10 after giving its employees an oral notice. In its complaint, UNITES alleged that the firm had not paid salaries and compensation to its employee since May. Belair Communications, registered with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) as an export unit, was engaged in telemarketing.

UNITES general secretary Karthik Shekhar told Business Standard that Belair BPO had fired 30 of its employees earlier in December 2005. "We intervened in the matter then. We found that the firm indulged in unethical practices. In June, without giving a written notice to the employees, the operations were shut down," he added.

The BPO was operating out of Varthur near Whitefield on Bangalore's outskirts. Shekhar said that the employees will try to secure a labour court order against the BPO. "But the firm does not own any asset in Bangalore. Therefore compensation through labour court may be difficult. We will pressurise the firm through our international partners to release the salaries due to the employees," he stated.

He pointed out that the UNITES partner in the UK, Connect International, had already visited the Belair Communications office. "They found that it is a very small firm employing just around 30 employees. We will wait for the labour court order before taking steps," Shekhar said.