Sanofi employees start 96-hour work abstention
Protesters demand compensation if Sanofi shuts down business here.
Employees of the multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi Bangladesh have started a 96-hour work abstention from Monday morning with a demand for compensation suspecting that the company will shut down operation.
The demonstration is taking place at Sanofi's 22 branch offices across the country, along with the headquarters in Dhaka.
Sanofi recently sent a letter to its board, expressing intention to sell their stakes in Bangladesh due to some strategic reasons. The decision created tension among its employees.
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Later, Sanofi sent an official clarification, saying, "Despite some speculative comments made in the media recently, it is not our intention to shut down in Bangladesh."
However, the employees claimed that they did not receive any such letter. Rather, they are sensing that Sanofi is preparing to shut down its business here or sell its shares.
Despite the work abstention, Sanofi will continue distributing its exclusive medicines to different hospitals and drug stores, said Sanofi authority.
An employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Business Standard: "We want clarification whether Sanofi is staying here or not."
Sanofi has around 1,000 employees and many local sellers are directly associated with the business here.
Sanofi Bangladesh imports exclusive drugs, antibiotics, vaccines for deadly diseases like meningitis and yellow fever, chemotherapeutic products, medicines for kidney diseases, diabetes and more.
