The Mountain Hazelnuts is laying off 153 employees from next month. They were issued a one-month notice. The company said they have limited funding and reduced production. However, the employees are not happy with the decision amid the pandemic. The company also laid off some 70 employees in September last year for a similar reason.
Karma Drukgyel, 33, will lose his job soon. He worked for about six years in the company. And he is not alone. Questioning the decision, the father of two is already planning to do contract work.
“They said they are laying off 153 but initially it was 157. We feel that they are keeping people they know. People with more than eight years of experience are also on the laid-off list. But they have retained people with experience as little as a year. We don’t know the basis of their decision,” said Karma.
Before putting them on the retrenchment list, they were on unpaid leave for about seven months. Some said that affected them to find better employment opportunities.
“Even if we aren’t ready to leave, we have no choice but to go. But we are happy that they helped us till now,” said Cheki Lhamo.
“It’s been hard paying rent and getting help from family. After seven months, we were called back to work. It hasn’t even been 15 days that we have been working and we were handed over the list. We don’t know what to do,” said Gyem Lham.
“The decision came out of nowhere and I had no time to prepare for another job. It’s sad. I am planning to go back to my village,” said Sangay Wangmo.
The company now has only some 60 employees. And they want the government to intervene before they meet the same fate.
The Mountain Hazelnuts said the retrenchment process was carried out in consultation with the labour ministry. The management discussed with the managers of each department based on future work plans.
“We have been given second chance with the newly secured funding and the streamlined operation model. We are confident that the changes we are making will benefit the hazelnut growers and the nation. Even though we are smaller, we still have a dedicated field team who would continue to ensure all growers receive all the necessary technical support,” said Sean Watson (PhD), CEO of Mountain Hazelnuts.
The company will a start major grafting program next week to increase nut production. But they will not be part of the initiative.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
