09.02.10   |   kl. 12:00   |   Aktuelt, PROSA mener

PROSA: Stop the abuse of Indian IT workers

PRESS RELEASE:

A wage far below the Danish minimum wage, a life of board and lodging and being tied to the workplace with the threat of repatriation to silence any criticism. That is the reality of Indian IT professionals in Denmark's second largest IT company CSC, who with the Immigration Agency's endorsement are working in unbearable conditions in Denmark. That was documented on a spot in the radio programme “P1 Orientation” monday evening.

The Association of IT professionals, PROSA, is strongly opposed to the inhuman treatment:

"PROSA requires effective controls and sanctions to ensure that employers cannot just cheat Danish and Indian workers," says Hanne Lykke Jespersen, Union secretary in PROSA - Association of IT professionals.

Over the past three years CSC has brought about 900 Indians to Denmark. They have work and residence permits through the so-called salary amount rule, which states that they must be paid at least 375,000 DKK (50.000 euro) a year. But because of a bilateral tax agreement between India and Denmark, Indians do not pay tax in Denmark, and CSC hasused this as an excuse to pay them much less than this amount. CSC has stated their salary to the Immigration Service with the tax amount added to the actually paid wages and thereby reach the required 375,000 DKK (50.000 euro) a year. Immigration Service, according to CSC, is informed about this and has allegedly endorsed this arrangement.

”Immigration Service has either by mistake or with their eyes open assisted employers to cheat Indian IT professionals, since they appear to have approved this tax circus both in the CSC and in several other Danish companies," says Hanne Lykke Jespersen.

Slave-like

The Indian IT professionals are paid their Indian salary and have a fixed residence in Denmark, which CSC claims has price of  11-12000 DKK. monthly. As part of their contract with CSC India they have signed a clause which means that if they leave CSC within two years after they have returned to India, they must pay a penalty of 300,000 rupees - approx. 35,000 Danish kroner – a very substantial amount  for Indian IT professionals who earn 3-5000 Danish kroner pr. month.

PROSA has had contact with one of the Indian employees. According to his contract he is supposed to be paid an amount of 550 DKK a day (per diem)  in Denmark -, ie. 16,500 DKK monthly. But he was actually paid little more than half that amount, 285 DKK a day.

"When he complained about this, CSC immediately changed his flight ticket and before he could spell the word 'rights’, he was sent back to India. He was angry about the treatment and terminated his employment. Now he is under financial pressure because of the penalty he must pay in India and because his so-called "leave papers” are being withheld until he has waived all claims against CSC Denmark. Without leave papers he is prevented from getting another job. It's slave-like," says Hanne Lykke Jespersen.

Lowbailing Danish labor

This underpayment of Indians is going on while four percent of the Danish IT professionals in PROSA are out of work and recieving unemployment benefits. And at the same time a number of Danish IT professionals employed by CSC are waiting to be assigned work while CSC is considering whether they should be fired or jobs can be found for them.

"In this way the Danish IT manpower is lowbailed. That means more unemployed IT professionals. For the Danish society, it is a bad business," says Hanne Lykke Jespersen.

For further information contact:

Hanne Lykke Jespersen, Union secretary in PROSA - Association of IT Professionals

Tel. +45 2888 1247

Contact via mail: hlj@prosa.dk

PROSA - Association of IT professionals organize more than 12,000 employees in the IT sector. More information on www.prosa.dk.

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