Following Kerala ‘Dog Leash’ Video Triggers Outrage, Employees Introduce A Twist
The video contained an employee who was walked about on his knees like a dog with a leash around his neck.
A clip apparently featuring workers of a private company in Kochi, Kerala being treated cruelly has ignited huge indignation, but apparently, several of the workers have come forward and said that the allegation of harassment was false.
The video featured an employee being taken around on his knees like a dog with a leash on his neck. There are reports some employees were also reportedly forced to lick coins off the floor as punishment for not meeting their sales targets.
The Labour Department of Kerala ordered an investigation after the shocking visuals were telecast on a local television news channel.
But some of the workers at Keltra – a marketing company – have supported the company and said they never experienced such workplace intimidation, at least two local media houses reported. The videos were shared to bring bad reputation to the company, they asserted.
The police also found the video misleading.
The Incident
Addressing a local channel, certain employees have blamed the company’s management for using humiliating methods to punish failing employees. According to the police, the suspected incident happened at Perumbavoor near Kaloor where the company is situated.
The police added that it did not receive any complaint and that the company has refuted the allegations.
The visuals broadcast by the news channels were “shocking and disturbing”, said state labour minister Sivankutty. The police ordered an inquiry, and a report was sought from the district labour officer, he added.
The State Human Rights Commission and Kerala State Youth Commission have registered independent cases. The practice is not acceptable in a civilised society and action should be taken legally, said the president of Youth Commission M Shajar.
New Twist
The police described the video as deceptive. The former manager named Manaf had been having some differences with the company’s owner and he had shot the video together with some trainees – the new trainees of the company – asserting that it was an exercise of theirs during their training.
Mathrubhumi stated that some of the employees have also dismissed the allegations against the company. A female employee of the marketing company said she never had such incidents and that they are safe at her workplace. Another employee stated that they have no sales target, and their pay is commission-based.
In a police statement, the man who was seen crawling on the ground has also stated that the video was recorded to resolve a conflict between some other workers, the local news source said. He stated he had only been working at the company for four months and had agreed to be involved in the video. The video was released after the managers quarreled and some of the employees were disciplined, he alleged.
He is said to have made a similar statement to the district labour officer.
