Bata Employees sacked for not keeping shops open

Kolkata, Feb 20 (UNI) Shoe major Bata India Ltd, has sacked 11 shop managers and around 100 employees for refusing to keep stores open till 2100 hours seven days a week.

Bata Senior Vice-President (HR) Rakesh Gautam told UNI today that the company took the move yesterday after these employees refused to adhere to the company's directions.

The Bata management was facing employee-related problems at 19 of its outlets in the city. The shops were sealed on February 18.

However, Mr Gautam said, the shops have been opened today.

Mr Gautam mentioned that the authorities had told the employees that there would be no increase in overall working hours for employees. However, they insisted on retaining the old 10-8 timings and one-and-half-day closure.

Though there had been several meetings between the employees and management in the last six months, no agreement was reached.

Bata, battered by competition from regional and other national brands with low-cost production and leaner workforces, had been trying to bring fresh life over the past few quarters as it started to outsource more of its production, revamp its retail chain and bring in new designs.

Bata outlets in various high street locations had already started keeping longer hours.

Although the Bengal government has approved new working hours under the West Bengal Shops&Establishments Act, the unions refused to accept it, Mr Gautam said.

Bata Employees Union sources said that before starting 365-day operation, the company should give more attention to increasing product quality, supply and staff strength.

UNI