Dear Subramony, Yes, the attempt should be to find a solution and methinks highlighting this invisible problem is itself part of the solution. The youngsters who have read these exchanges are at least now aware that the corporate sector adopts two employment models, contractual and regular and often discriminates against the disabled, even while proclaiming from roof-tops about their noble missions. This awareness itself should equip them to scrutinise the job offers that are handed to them, read between the lines and possibly not to close their minds against the government sector jobs altogether.
Legally, there may be little that we can do, without jeopardising the future of our own folks. May be, we can do more discreet investigations to determine the extent of rot and perhaps start a blog to counter the politically correct reports coming forth in the mainstream media. More suggestions are welcome from the mature and experienced members. Remember, this is a classic case of discrimination as was the raw treatment meted out to some of our members by certain private airlines, banking institutions etc, but, the sound and fury of the debates at such instances seem to be missing this time because the sufferers are silent about it. Rgds RS M: 98 472 76 126 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Subramani L Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 11:24 AM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: Re: [AI] IT sector employment - stark realities... In effect, what you are trying to say is while we can say ok to contracts, we can't say yes to deferred promotions and lack of recognition of performance and so on. But how do we confront this? As Rajesh had said we can't legally prove discrimination of this sort, as we have sighned up to the contract (which means we are agreeing to the terms). Also, how do we distinguish those employers who are creating the impression that they have an inclusive policy, while actually discriminating in rewarding performances, from those who are genuinely inclusive? The purpose of this should be tyo find solutions, rather than just exchanging ideas. Subramani -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sudhir R (NeSTIT) Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 9:23 AM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: Re: [AI] IT sector employment - stark realities... *********************** No virus was detected in the attachment no filename Your mail has been scanned by InterScan. ***********-*********** Dear Harish, I am not disputing the contract employment system, the retrenchment possibility even while in regular employment, the attraction of the IT sector or the hard bargain a good professional can drive with a prospective employer. I am merely bothered by the singular way IT majors seem to apply this practice to their disabled employees. Parimala's is not an isolated case, believe me. Other sufferers are also there on our group and I am sure, lots of persons with other disabilities are also discriminated against similarly. In fact, I know of one instance where a high profile CEO of a IT company waxed eloquent about opening the doors of his company to the visually challenged a few years back, hired a few trainees while he was holding an important position in Nasscom and quietly packed them off after he faded from the limelight. I have no complaints against him if the contract termination was due to the non-performance of the resources. But, knowing the corporate penchant for hogging media, it is very possible that the entire episode was an orchestrated one, the poor visually challenged resources being the sacrificial goats in the process. What amazes me is how the very companies that practise this discrimination towards the disabled, still hog the limelight in the media as equal opportunity employers of PWDs. Their advertising budget ensures that the mainstream media toes their line without any trace of the investigative journalism or sting operations that seem to be reserved only for politicians and bureaucrats. Wish I had got this information on the day rediff.com carried the article on IT companies opening their doors to the visually challenged which I had naively and enthusiastically posted in AI a few weeks back. I could have at least written a few nasty comments on the true state of affairs and the readers might have got a more balanced view of the issue. (smile) Rgds RS M: 98 472 76 126 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Harish Kotian Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 9:48 PM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: Re: [AI] IT sector employment - stark realities... Hi Sudhir Even in public sectors, they are going for contract jobs. Even if one gets a regular employent, anyone can be easily retrenched. All said and done, for a fresher private sector is a great learning place. Good hands are in much demand in the IT space and one can leveridge it in a period of time to ones advantage. Harish. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sudhir R (NeSTIT)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 9:10 AM Subject: Re: [AI] IT sector employment - stark realities... > Dear Harish bhai, > > I fully agree with you that contract employment could act as the thin edge > of the wedge to induce companies to consider employing the differently > abled employees. And, uncertainties do bring out the best from us too. > > But, the fact remains that the best trapeze artists and movie stuntmen > perform with a safety net to catch them should anything go wrong. (smile) > I am afraid I can't effectively articulate the gnawing fears and > trepidations of a disabled resource working in a IT company who gets his > contract renewed often only on the last day and perhaps only for a further > period of six months. I was hoping some of these silent sufferers to > speak out, but, obviously they might be feeling embarrassed or insecure > and I fully empathise with their unenviable situation. > > Being a banking professional, you will agree with me that life requires > one to plan ahead for security of our own selves and that of our family, > like buying a home, making investments for retirement etc. In the absence > of a working social security mechanism in India, the best bet for a > disabled person is still a steady job which guarantees a steady stream of > predictable revenues. From this point of view, contract employment, > highly favoured by the hard core professionals who can dictate their > terms, is not the best of news for our young friends. > > This is what I wanted to highlight through my mail, since I know (and I > myself have been recommending) many bright youngsters have been looking > away from the staid government sector job markets to these glamourous > sunrise sectors. All that glitters, as is often in real life, is not > obviously gold. (smile) > > Rgds > > RS > M: 098 472 76 126 > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Harish > Kotian > Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 7:02 AM > To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in > Subject: Re: [AI] IT sector employment - stark realities... > > > Hi Sudhir > > You have raised a very interesting topic for introspection. > > In my personal view, contract work is a sort of blessing in disguise. > > 1 The employers are apprehensive about the capabilities of the blind. This > gives us a window to make an entry and gives us an opportunity to prove > ourselves. > > 2 Due to the uncertainties involved it forces one to get the best out of > us. > > However, uncertainty is not desirable in a long run to maintain healthy > relationship. > > This can be nicely put to the folks in the HR dept who have specialists > out > there to understand it better. > > Intervention of NGO's or help from HR consultuncy firms can also help in > getting the message across. > > Once having gained experience and having sharpened skill sets one is in a > better position to find jobs elsewhere. Now, one is in a better position > to > clinch a deal to ones terms. > > I personally feel it is better to grow in an organisation than keep > changing > jobs frequently. > > It helps mutually. > Harish. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sudhir R (NeSTIT)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> > Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 9:40 AM > Subject: Re: [AI] IT sector employment - stark realities... > > >> Dear Subramony, >> >> I can understand hard core professionals opting for contract-based >> employment that allows them to be loose-coupled to the employer. But, >> this is a voluntary decision and most often than not, the terms of the >> contract are thrashed out after mutual discussions. >> >> The cases I referred to in my original mail pertains to trainees, not >> professionals. I am quite sure they would prefer regular jobs, if given >> a >> choice, since their professional skill-sets are not well-developed. And, >> what are thrust upon these hapless youngsters are unilateral contracts, >> not ones discussed thread-bare. >> >> And, of course, the matter of discrimination comes up when just the >> disabled candidates have to put up with such 'modern' practices. Those >> able-bodied who join along with them or after them are taken on rolls. >> Now, do you smell something fishy ? >> >> Rgds >> >> RS >> M: 98 472 76 126 >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Subramani L >> Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 9:36 AM >> To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in >> Subject: Re: [AI] IT sector employment - stark realities... >> >> >> Dear Sudhir: >> >> I am not too conversant with the legalese of contract employment, but it >> is certainly becoming the trend. Why IT, even the media industry is fast >> adapting these practices. And, several journalists (both in print and >> broadcast), who are able bodied, prefer contract not only because they >> are paid higher, but also because it is much easier to leave when they >> no longer inclined to work. >> >> As far as my knowledge goes, contract employment isn't exclusively >> offered to the blind or disabled. On the contrary, even the so-called >> able-bodied persons have to accede to demands of employers that they >> will be taken as contract employees. Also, contracts in the traditional >> sense is different from what we are referring here as contracts. Why >> contracts, I know IT employees (who are able-bodied) who are asked to >> sign a bond that stops them from leaving the company for two or three >> years. In my opinion, that is more discriminatory than contracts. >> >> Let's not forget that we live in a knowledge economy, where >> opportunities are increasing with corresponding risks. So, in this >> environment, how far we can expect traditional employment terms to be >> applied remains a doubt. Perhaps, Rajesh or Kanchan can answer this from >> a legal perspective. >> >> Subramani >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sudhir R >> (NeSTIT) >> Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 9:13 AM >> To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in >> Subject: [AI] IT sector employment - stark realities... >> >> *********************** >> No virus was detected in the attachment no filename >> >> Your mail has been scanned by InterScan. >> ***********-*********** >> >> >> Dear friends, >> >> We have all been enthused in recent months by the continuous stream of >> 'heart-warming' news reports from the booming IT and ITES sectors of >> India opening their doors to the visually challenged. But, closer >> observation of the facts on the ground reveal certain trends that are >> disquieting and disillusioning and though not politically correct, I >> thought I must bring these to the kind attention of Access Indians. >> >> a) It seems many of those who have been recruited have been taken in as >> contract employees and remain so for years together. The professed >> excuse bandied by the companies is that they want to keep the actual >> employee count low. This excuse would have held water had not the >> companies gladly confirmed the non-disabled staff members who were >> recruited along with or much later than their disabled counterparts. I >> can understand a company extending an employee's probation if he does >> not measure up, but, extending contracts umpteen number of times seem to >> take on sinister tones. >> >> b) Simultaneously, I think these unfortunate disabled candidates also >> suffer discriminatory treatment vis-a-vis their non-disabled peers in >> terms of compensation and benefit, seniority etc due to the long years >> they spend as contract employees. >> >> c) It may be fashionable to explain this phenomenon as a modern trend >> in employment thanks to globalisation, but, when it applies only to one >> segment of (disadvantaged) employees, I prefer to call it high-handed >> discrimination. India does not have a social security mechanism in >> place and the best bet for any disabled resource is still the security >> of a regular job. Unfortunately, the current practice seems to be >> denying this precise safety net to the disabled. >> >> I am not sure how many of Access Indians working in the IT / ITES sector >> are currently suffering this discrimination silently, hoping to be >> confirmed in the years to come. But, anecdotal evidence has shown me >> that many of the so-called 'equal opportunity employers' who hog media >> limelight with their 'diversity enrichment' programmes are major >> culprits of this shameful practice. May be, a few of the silent >> sufferers should speak out for the sake of other starry-eyed youngsters >> who have been building castles in thin air after reading all these media >> reports. >> >> Simultaneously, can legal eagles like Kanchan and Rajesh educate us >> about the current Indian laws applicable to the rights of contract >> employees ? I am sure it is mandatory for a company to confirm an >> employee after a particular period of being a contract employee. How >> does one go about enforcing such laws and how risky would such a >> procedure be ? >> >> And, Subramony, can you smell a journalistic scoop in this issue ? >> >> >> I have been an avid votary of the IT and ITES sector as possible >> sources of fullfilling and well-paying careers for the visually >> challenged and have even been discouraging the local youngsters from >> looking at the unglamourous Government sector, but, I should admit this >> revelation has forced me to revise my recommendations. In fact, I have >> started wondering whether this phenomenon is restricted merely to the IT >> / ITES sector or a characteristic of the entire private sector. I know >> of at least one case in Kerala where a manufacturing company has been >> employing a visually challenged youngster for almost 9 years as a >> contract employee at half the salary he would have been entitled for in >> regular service. >> >> Please share your individual views, suggestions and experiences in this >> matter. Skeletons have remained in the corporate cupboards for too >> long, methinks... >> >> Regards >> >> R Sudhir >> M: 098 472 76 126 >> To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i >> n >> >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n >> > > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
