New rules for laid-off employees; CorroHealth to open on Tuesday, final decision on 10th

KOCHI: CorroHealth, a US-based medical coding company that laid off about 800 employees without prior notice, will reopen on Tuesday. The laid-off employees will be allowed to enter the office and use facilities such as dining and washrooms. But they will not be given jobs.

The temporary decision was taken during a discussion held at the Ernakulam Guest House by the company's legal advisor, Adv. Ameer, Labour Commissioner Safna Nasruddin, Uma Thomas MLA, and labour union representatives. The final decision will be taken during a discussion with the company representatives led by Labour Minister Bindu Krishna on the 10th. The District Labour Officer and Assistant Labour Officer will visit the company on Tuesday.

The Labour Commissioner warned that legal action would be taken if there was no consensus in the discussion with the minister. The government's permission must be obtained 90 days before closing down an establishment with more than 100 workers. The company violated this condition. The company's legal advisor informed that a sudden decision had to be taken since the operations in Kerala were unprofitable and new projects were not available.

Even before the discussion started at the guest house, the employees reached the office of CorroHealth in Palarivattom en masse. The security staff did not allow anyone into the office. Leaders, including DYFI State Secretary VK Sanoj MLA and President V. Wasif, intervened and allowed the employees inside the office. AIYF leaders also joined in the protest.