VRS is optional to employees, says Nokia

Finnish handset major Nokia today said the voluntary retirement scheme announced by the company for the employees of its facility near here is "optional" and is up to them to opt for it or not.
"We would like to clarify that the scheme is voluntary and it is up to employees to opt for it or not," Nokia said responding to allegations of employees that they are being forced to accept the VRS scheme.
"There are about 8,000 workers employed at Sriperumbudur Nokia facility, which has been scaling down its operations and the company had announced VRS for the workforce. But the management is compelling workers to accept the scheme has enraged them", an employees union leader earlier told PTI.

At the meeting held today, the employees affilitated to the Nokia India Thozhilalargal Sangam (Nokia India Employees Union), decided to seek the intervention of Tamil Nadu government to strictly direct the management to make the VRS scheme optional and not mandatory.