Accenture announces to close down Bangladesh operations
STAFF REPORTER
Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Limited, a US management consultancy, technology services and outsourcing firm, has announced to close down its operations in Bangladesh from November 30, 2017.
Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions will end its operations effective November 30, 2017, the company announced this at its Town Hall Meeting held at its corporate office in the capital yesterday.
Employees of the company will have the opportunity to continue their jobs till the date. Some of its employees may have the opportunity to be offered jobs with Wipro, a new service provider appointed by GP, and rest of them will have to find their own jobs, the company also announced.
Earlier, Purushothama Kadambu, managing director, Accenture Operations of the company, informed its employees about the decision via email.
Telenor Group and Accenture are working closely together to re-organize several engagements across Asia and Europe. As a result, certain services currently provided by Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Limited (ACISL) will be transitioned in-house and some services will be transitioned to a third-party provider. Some employees of ACISL will have the opportunity to be offered roles by the third-party provider as part of this transition. ACISL will assist all employees, as appropriate, during this transition period, Shabnam Khan, spokesperson of the Accenture Bangladesh, told The Independent.
Established in 2010 by Grameenphone, the company (GPIT) provides end-to-end solutions to banks, financial institutions, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceutical and telecom companies.
GP sold its 51 per cent stake in GPIT to Accenture in 2013, according to a Grameenphone annual report.
According to the email of Purushothama Kadambu, managing director, Accenture Operations, We guarantee that everyone will have a job with ACISL until the end of November, 2017. All salaries and allowances, both statutory and contractual, will be paid in full until then.
General Secretary of Employee union of Accentur Shian Ahmad said Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Limited has 556 employees. Among them 400 are the members of our union.
If the company closes down its operation, what will happen to them, he questioned?
According to the Purushothama Kadambus email, As you may know, Accenture and Telenor (GSS and Grameenphone) have been in discussions regarding future service delivery. With the approaching expiry of ACISL contracts early next year, both Accenture and Telenor Group have taken a look on how best to serve the evolving needs of the business. As a result, the services currently provided by Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Limited (ACISL) will be transitioned to both in-house and other service providers.
Some of the work will be transitioned back to Telenors operations in other countries, while some of the work will continue with a new service provider in Bangladesh. The email said.
According to the email, Some of you may have the opportunity to be offered jobs with Wipro, a new service provider appointed by GP. We expect any job offers from the other service provider, should they chose to do so, will come before the end of November. We will keep you appropriately updated. Please note that it is up to each individual who receives such a job offer, to decide if they want to accept it.
Purushothama Kadambu said to employees of Accenture Bangladesh, All employees employed by ACISL at August 1, will be eligible for an ex-gratia severance payment, in addition to statutory entitlements. We are engaging with the CBA to agree on an appropriate ex-gratia amount. In addition, every employee leaving ACISL will be given an experience letter testifying to good service and character during their time with ACISL.
As the transition of services takes place from now until December from ACISL to the new service provider or is returned to the client, some employees may be given paid leave of absence. Tower leads will confirm if and when this takes place. he added.
There will be no impact on the payment of salaries and allowances which will continue until the end of November even if you are on a paid leave of absence. Your severance payment will also be unaffected by any paid leave of absence. according to email.
As of 1 September 2017, employees who have new job offers in the external market or for other personal reasons would like to cut short their notice period may apply to Tower Leads to leave earlier than the end of November by mutual agreement. email added.
Purushothama Kadambu said in an email to employees, The ACISL management team recognises that this will be a period of uncertainty for all our employees. We also recognise that you have worked hard to maintain excellent service for our clients.
In acknowledgement of this, we have today paid a Loyalty Bonus equivalent to one months base pay directly into your bank account. This is an unconditional payment and yours to keep with our grateful thanks. he added.
In addition, at the end of every month from the end of August until the end of November, a Service Continuity Bonus of an extra half months base pay will be awarded for uninterrupted service and adherence to ACISL policies. Service will be monitored from the 17th of one month to the next, and the bonus paid along with the end of month payroll, starting from 17th July to 16th August, 2017.
It is imperative that we manage a smooth and professional transition of services as this would play a crucial part in meeting our main objective the best outcome for our employees.
Any disruptions to service or unprofessional behaviour will be counterproductive for ACISL and its employees. Purushothama Kadambu added.
