Sanofi staff demand benefits before Beximco handover

Employees of Sanofi Bangladesh (SBL) yesterday demanded that the French multinational clear paying all employee benefits before its handover to Beximco Pharmaceuticals was completed.

Bangladesh Bank recently gave the nod for Beximco to acquire 54.6 per cent of Sanofi Bangladesh's stakes for about Tk 400 crore.

The industries ministry holds another 25.36 per cent stake while Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporations 19.96 per cent.

Operating here since 1958, Sanofi made the sale intent public last January.

At a press conference in Economic Reporters Forum, Sanofi Bangladesh Workers-Employees Association alleged that the French multinational was exiting the country without paying any employee benefit.

The employee benefits would amount to at least Tk 100 crore, said the association general secretary, Sanjib Kumar Chakraborty.

"We, the 369 workers of Sanofi Bangladesh, worked hard for the company and made it profitable, but Sanofi is going to hand over its shares here without paying our lifetime savings," he said, requesting the prime minister to intervene.

A case is pending in court regarding staff benefits, said the employees.

Kutubuddin Ahmed, general secretary of Bangladesh Workers' Federation, said multinational companies which had previously withdrawn business from Bangladesh paid exit benefits to staff.

Contacted, Sanofi Bangladesh said the matter was pending a court decision.

"As a responsible company, Sanofi puts the interests and well-being of its employees on high priority," it said.

"We explained that upon completion of the share transfer, Sanofi Bangladesh will remain a separate legal entity, and Sanofi Bangladesh employees will continue their employment there, on the same terms and conditions that existed then," it said.