India: Private firm staff forced to lick coins, crawl as punishment for under-performance

Kochi: In a disturbing video that surfaced online has revealed the brutal treatment of workplace harassment at a private marketing firm in the Indian state of Kerala for failing to meet sales targets, according to media reports.

The incident allegedly took place with a private marketing firm in Kerala where the said firm has subjected its under-performing employees inhuman treatment like making them walk on their knees like chained dogs and lick coins from the floor. The staff of the firm were also allegedly made to wear belts around their necks, consume rotten fruit, and drink water in an animal-like manner, the report further said.

The labour ministry of the state has subsequently ordered a probe into the alleged harassment after the disturbing visuals were aired by local television channels.

As the issue came to the light, Kerala state Labour Minister V Sivankutty ordered an inquiry into the undated incident and instructed the district labour officer to submit an immediate report on the incident.

Media report further said that the minister termed the visuals "shocking and disturbing" and said it cannot be accepted at any cost in a state like Kerala.

"I have ordered a probe into the incident and instructed the district Labour officer to submit a report in connection with the incident after carrying out a probe," he told the media.