SureCash terminates 108 employees
Those employees suddenly received phone calls from the company’s human resources department and learned that their services were no longer required
SureCash, a mobile financial platform of Progoti Systems Ltd, recently terminated 108 of its permanent employees amid the unprecedented uncertainty the country is facing now due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On April 9, those employees suddenly received phone calls from the company's human resources department and learned that their services were no longer required, said sources.
The company also did not inform the terminated employees when they would get their salaries and other payments as per the service rule.
An area manager of SureCash, who has been sacked, told The Business Standard, "It was very much unexpected for me to hear that I have no job in this tough situation amid the coronavirus outbreak.
"I even fear whether I will get paid for this month or not. How I will survive with my family in this situation?"
On Wednesday, SureCash said in an official statement that for the last six to seven months, the company had been working to improve the operational efficiency to provide better services to its 20 million customers across the country, and that it was re-structuring the sales department to survive in this competitive market.
"As a result, some of the positions have to be abolished, and unfortunately this is happing at this difficult time," read the statement sent by Mashrur Hassan Mim, head of marketing communication of SureCash.
SureCash started commercial operations in 2015. It is an open payment network in partnership with four local banks, including one of the largest state-owned banks and more than 1,000 payment partners.
So far, SureCash has invested Tk200 crore in this market, read the statement.
The mobile financial platform is now providing technology support to state-owned Rupali Bank for operating mobile banking services to provide stipend for primary education. More the one crore mobile financial services (MFS) accounts of Rupali Bank have been managed by SureCash.
Bangladesh Commercial Bank, Jamuna Bank and First Security Islami Bank are also operating MFS accounts jointly with SureCash. Recently, National Commerce and Credit (NCC) Bank ended its partnership with SureCash.
Another sacked employee of SureCash said, "We are living under uncertainty after being terminated from our jobs. Our employer is not confirming when they will pay our salaries."
On April 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared Tk72,750 crore package to revive the economy from the pandemic's impact and assured that no one would be jobless in the Mujib Year.
The government has announced 2020-2021 as Mujib Year marking the birth centenary of the Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
SureCash authorities said as part of their ongoing effort to improve the operational efficiency, several people have been recruited in various departments, including in the company's leadership positions, recently.
