Kerala Labour Dept intervenes as CorroHealth rules out entry for staff in Kochi and Kozhikode

Kochi: Tension escalated at the Kochi and Kozhikode offices of US-based healthcare technology firm CorroHealth on Tuesday after the management blocked laid-off workers from entering the premises. The move reportedly violated a prior agreement brokered by state authorities following mass layoffs last week, drawing immediate intervention from the Kerala Labour Department.

The standoff comes a day after Kerala Labour Commissioner Safna Nazarudeen and Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas held talks with CorroHealth’s legal counsel. The company had recently terminated approximately 850 medical coding professionals across its Kochi and Kozhikode centers.

That meeting concluded with a consensus that affected employees would be permitted entry until July 10, the date set for high-level discussions between Kerala Labour Minister Bindhu Krishna and the company's management. However, when workers showed up on Tuesday morning, they found themselves locked out.

Upon receiving the news, MLA Uma Thomas and Labour Department officials arrived at the venue to review the situation and speak with the stranded staff. To safeguard the workers' legal standing, the department initiated an official attendance logging process outside the premises.

"We have asked them to write their names and signatures to record their attendance. We will treat those who reported for duty as present based on the list submitted by them, and the matter will be taken up with the management," Thomas told reporters.

Disgruntled employees were forced to wait outside for several hours to register their attendance. A mirrored crisis unfolded at the company's Kozhikode facility, where nearly 200 terminated employees were similarly barred from entering, prompting local labour officials to implement an identical attendance logging system.

The incident has triggered political backlash, with major parties like the Congress and CPM backing the workers. Opposing factions have pinned the blame on the central government's newer Labour Codes, claiming they permit corporations to execute mass layoffs without notifying state bodies or the labour department.

Labour Minister Bindu Krishna previously confirmed that a meeting with CorroHealth's management is scheduled for July 10 in Kochi to find an amicable resolution.

CorroHealth has not yet issued an official response regarding the matter.

PTI