- Talrop shut down 21 companies across Kerala, leaving more than 300 employees without jobs and awaiting salary payments pending for four to 11 months.
- 300 employees have been laid off in phases, with many alleging they are owed three months' salary and a settlement amount.
- Employees staged a protest march to the company’s headquarters at Thrikkakara, demanding that the management immediately clear their pending salaries.
- Labour department initially settled a few complaints but later stopped responding to the employees' claims.
- CorroHealth laid off 800 employees, which preceded Talrop's decision to shut down its operations.
- Talks with CorroHealth, led by Labour Minister Bindu Krishna, failed to yield results, with new talks scheduled for the 20th.
- Employees are preparing for a public protest after their complaints were ignored.
- The owner of Talrop cited AI as a reason for the shutdown, stating it left them with no other option.
- Talrop's spokesperson attributed the financial crisis to the transition towards AI and the outbreak of war in West Asia.
- Talrop committed to paying pending salaries and compensations before October, as communicated to employees.
Kochi's Talrop has shut down 21 companies, impacting over 300 employees amid a wave of layoffs in the region. The firm, which has not paid salaries for up to 11 months, cites the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a key factor in its decision.
Employees have expressed their frustration, with many staging protests demanding overdue payments. “After more than a decade of building our ecosystem, we have made the strategic decision to completely shut down our ₹250 crore ecosystem company,” the company stated, attributing its financial crisis to AI and geopolitical tensions.
The situation mirrors the recent layoffs at CorroHealth, which let go of 800 employees. “We are committed to paying pending salaries and compensations before October,” the spokesperson assured, although many employees remain skeptical.
Labour officials have noted that initial complaints were settled, but as claims increased, the company ceased communication. “The labour department purportedly responded that they would not intervene in the issue,” said a representative, highlighting the challenges faced by the affected workers.
As protests continue, employees are calling for government intervention to address their plight and ensure they receive their due salaries.
“Talrop's owner cited AI threat as the reason for shutting down its ₹250-crore ecosystem, leaving employees without salaries for up to 11 months. Separately, talks with CorroHealth led by Labour Minister Bindu Krishna failed, with new talks scheduled for the 20th.”
Kerala Kaumudi
