CorroHealth row: Staff regain office access after protest; Kerala govt defers action till July 10

Kochi: Employees of US-based medical coding firm CorroHealth will continue to have access to the company's Kochi office until July 10 following a protest on Monday over being denied entry days after receiving termination emails without prior notice.

The interim arrangement was reached after discussions involving government officials, employee representatives, trade unions and the company's legal representative. Kerala Labour Minister Bindhu Krishna is scheduled to meet the company's senior executives on July 10 to discuss the dispute.

The decision was taken at a meeting attended by Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas, Labour Commissioner Safna Nazarudeen, representatives of the employees, trade unions and the company's legal representative.

Employees denied entry after termination emails

Hundreds of employees reached the Kochi office at around 9 am on Monday but were stopped by security personnel at the co-working facility. The security staff said they had been instructed by the company not to allow the employees to enter.

The employees remained outside the premises for several hours before political outfits, including the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), joined the protest.

The employees were later allowed inside the office.

The dispute stems from the company's decision last week to terminate more than 700 employees in Kerala. According to employee representatives, around 800 employees across the company's Kochi and Kozhikode offices received "separation and full and final settlement" emails when they reported for work on Friday.

Government defers legal action until ministerial talks

Following Monday's discussions, the company agreed to allow employees to enter its Kochi office from Tuesday. Although no work has been assigned to them, they will be permitted to use office facilities, including the dining area and washrooms, Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas said.

Labour Commissioner Safna Nazarudeen said the state government would not initiate legal proceedings against the company before the Labour Minister's meeting with company representatives on July 10. If the talks do not result in a settlement, the government will consider legal action.

The Commissioner said the state had not received any prior intimation from the company regarding the closure of its Kerala operations. Under the Industrial Disputes Act, establishments employing more than 100 workers are required to obtain prior government permission before closing operations and must provide advance notice.

According to the Labour Commissioner, the company's legal representative said its Kerala operations had become financially unviable and that the firm had failed to secure new projects, prompting the decision to shut down operations.

Until the July 10 meeting takes place, the interim arrangement allowing employees access to the Kochi office will remain in force.