DPS lays off a number of people at short notice
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Update: From the comments it seems that there were layoffs, but some had some decent severance. There is no agreement on the number but it is estimated to be around 30.
I’m categorizing this as a rumor because I have not been able to confirm this and heard it only from one perspective — a perspective likely to bend the facts. If anyone has more info pls add it to the comments here. If you’re from DPS please help us clairfy this.
Apprently yesterday Digital Processing Systems, or D.P.S, is Islamabad laid off 130 people on a 1-hour notice.
I dont think such a large readjustment of the workforce is a resizing because of financial issues so I dont think this is going to have any effect on the stability of the company.
Where I have seen resizing of this size is typically when a company loses a major account. These companies spend an enormous amount of effort to overcome the image issues associated with this country to try and land foreign deals. However, with the security situation in the country up in the air it is not surprising to find clients pull out. As such, this could be the first example of the impact the political situation is having on the booming economy.
No one consciously wants to lay off people for their enjoyment but that’s the tough reality of projects and services-based businesses.
The one-hour notice part — if true — is rather unfortunate though.
2:34 pm
sadly, the news is true.. I just confirmed it.
2:35 pm
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2:46 pm
but not sure about the number.. someone says it is 30, and another says it is 130..
2:52 pm
yes this is true.
3:25 pm
Well this is true but, truth not well told. The post maker should have confirmed it from some reliable sources before “breaking the news”.
Here comes a hadith in mind at this point,
“aik banda ka jhoota honay k liyee itna he kafi hay k woh suni sunai bat ko begair tehkeek k agay phela day”.
Here is the fact, but this is not an OFICIAL STATEMENT nor AM PRESENTING THE MANAGEMENT’s POINT OF VIEW, am clarifying it on my personal capacity only that
The Number mentioned is not 130 at all, and the 1 hour notice is totaly baseless.
Even some persons have been given a very reasonable time until they find a good job for them. I know because all this beacause am part of DPS though I have been among the very few persons who have lost jobs or will loose.
8:08 pm
true
8:43 pm
oh dear, how sad and unfortunate is that, it’s almost like there is no hope for these capitalists they as ruthless as a black crow in aunty park in Clifton, khi where they hit the poor people who come to walk their in the afternoon.
may Allah be with their families for they are about to face hell.
i wish those people could do a survey over to see what effects these kind of actions lead to before making these ruthless decisions.
9:10 pm
the IT industry in Pakistan is facing serious shortage of well trained. Companies take great pains (financial and otherwise) to improve their image. It literally takes years.
I don’t believe DPS would do it the way described in this blog. they wouldn’t lose years of efforts to save 15-20 days salary/notice period.
9:52 pm
130 people laid off? what’s the total workforce there? I believe severance was paid else they can be taken to court
10:46 pm
What’s important is for someone to try and find out the exact number and exact terms under which this has happend. I agree with some of the other comments that 130 is just too big a number to be realistic. Even 30 is big — it doesn’t make sense for any business to do that, especially in this stability-sensitive employee market.
Just got the internet back (thank you PTCL) so am catching up to this.
Blogging is funny. One day people are giving “advice” on not being a journalist and presenting a perspective that will benefit companies, and another day people are giving “advice” to get fact-checkers.
You guys have to remember that no one pays us to do this — so unless you guys are willing to donate money so we can hire some fact-checkers etc, we will rely on the info you guys can all dig up from your contacts about things like this. We’re not GEO TV — Green & White is more a community of people figuring things out TOGETHER just because no one else is talkign about them. Atleast I’m talking about good and bad realities — you guys can help us fill the gaps you find in our efforts.
Let’s learn to work together rather than sitting in our living rooms criticizing the “post-writer” all the time.
In terms of relying on certain people for credible info: Lesson learnt — if you’re reading, this is the last time I trust information from you.
12:59 am
Osama: Hey, don’t take this personally. Bloggers have to be thick skinned else they can’t be bloggers
schez: The guy already labeled it as “rumor” and not a breaking news. If you know the facts do shoot them out. However, your tone suggests you are on other side of the table.
I think its a good attempt by G&W to highlight situations like this. There shouldn’t be any employee exploitation and industry has to take it up unanimously if such a thing happens.
I personally know about a s/w house in khi where a friend with his team was fired at hour’s notice. As soon as they were back from lunch break they were told that they got 1 hour to pack up. So things happen and due to lack of industry support suckers get away with that.
2:04 am
schez. you clarified about the one hour notice period. how about the number is it 130, 30, 3? if you have read the post it is asking people to fill in the gaps about the rumor.
i think we are focusing on the wrong aspect of the post we should be discussing as an industry what should we do to avoid such situations, how should the employer be stopped of doing some thing of the sort. we don’t even know if they paid any dues to the employees or not.
is there a clause in labor law etc (i don’t know about it ) to stop a company for doing such thing or at least pay some one lets say a minimum amount proportional to his salary? if there is one then it should be invoked.
but lets dissect this that what actually happened and what should be done to avoid it happening in future
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11:38 am
Dear Osama & Kashif!
Fact 1. I am one of the employees who have been the victim of this downsizing.
Fact 2. The actual number is 45.I have forwarded this link to HR n concerned persons so that they can know also that what have they earned from this action.
Fact 3. If something is labelled as rumor, is it appropriate for educated persons like us to start running rumor factory.
Fact 4. THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION ONLY, AND DOES NOT IN ANY WAY DEFENDS AND REFELCTS OFFICIAL PARTR OR MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
And I am really sorry if my comments have hurt anybody.
Regards
Amer
12:42 pm
Schez, thanks for clarifying every thing. we were not trying to spread a rumor, we were trying to find the facts which thanks to you are now more clear and exact. just wanted every body to know whats happening around
1:01 pm
Its sad, but true we as employees, do not have any sort of job cover or protection from these actions.
We come under Shops and Establishment Act 1972. And some clauses of Factory Act 1934 are also applicable. Only protection we have is that if anybody wants to terminate the employment contratc, either employe or employer, have to serve one month notice or one month salary in liue of notice (sorry of if i spelled wrong). However there is the provision in this Act if an employee is terminated from employment, for any sort of reason, he shall be gievn a gratuity equivalent to his last drawn salary.
But as we know, we are not given this type of gratuity at all.
Second, if there comes cost reductions, business man have to do it for its survival or face the closure.
Third, but what about the employees who loose thier earnings from such actions.
So I think there should be some legislation or a way out that takes into account interests o fthe both parties.
But the thing is, who is gonna do this.
Even if go to labor court, it consumes lots of time and money, and its such courts are presuurised because these business man have links with influential people.
What I think we can do is, we can form a Union. Otherwise I dont see any way out to avoid such actions.