Kerala: A Kerala company, Hindustan Powerlinks faces severe backlash after a viral video showed employees being subjected to humiliating punishments for missing targets. The disturbing footage captures workers crawling on their knees with leather belts tied around their necks like dog collars. In another scene, partially unclothed employees are seen licking coins off the floor while colleagues watch.
Social media erupted in outrage after the video surfaced, with users demanding immediate action against the company. The Kerala Labour Department and Human Rights Commission have launched investigations into the incident. Company management denies responsibility, suggesting the abuse may have occurred at another location.
This incident highlights a disturbing contradiction in Kerala, often celebrated as India's most literate state. Such degrading treatment of workers recalls outdated punitive practices once common in Gulf countries decades ago.
Employment experts condemn these actions as clear violations of basic human dignity and workers' rights. The victims' apparent compliance raises troubling questions about workplace culture and employee vulnerability. Authorities must determine whether this was an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern of abuse.
The case has sparked nationwide debate about corporate accountability and the need for stronger workplace protections in India. Legal consequences should follow for those responsible for orchestrating or permitting such degrading treatment.
