T’puram: Forty-four employees of a Canadian IT company based at Technopark have lost their jobs after the firm decided to shut down its operations, citing business reasons.The company, operating from Pamba Building in Technopark Phase I, informed employees during a meeting last week that its operations would cease from Monday. All 44 employees have been laid off, with the management assuring them that statutory dues and compensation based on their length of service would be paid in accordance with labour laws.Sources said the company has closed only its India operations while continuing its business in Canada. Employees declined to speak to the media, citing ongoing discussions with the company over compensation.The closure has renewed concerns over job security in Kerala’s IT sector amid global economic uncertainty and continued restructuring by the technology companies. While the number of affected employees is relatively small, layoffs of this nature have remained uncommon in Technopark.The development follows the recent controversy involving CorroHealth in Kochi, where large-scale layoffs sparked protests, intervention by labour department and criticism from employee organizations.Prathidhwani, the socio-cultural and welfare organization representing IT employees in Technopark, urged the management of ATServe Technologies India to offer a severance package beyond the statutory settlement, considering the sudden loss of employment and the financial hardship faced by employees.The organization said it would support the affected employees in securing fair compensation and assist them in finding new job opportunities through its professional network and job portal. It also called on the company to ensure the closure process is carried out transparently and with dignity for its employees.
