Rekha Babu,
I agree that there are employees who abscond without even letting the employer know any thing or without a proper handing over. But what I have said is that employment bond is illegal as per law and I am not the law making authority but it is the law made just to avoid bonded labour system which had lots of drawbacks and due to which even the second generations of the indebted persons are forced to work. The matter is very serious in agriculture sector in many parts of India especially in the areas where human rights are not well known among the labour class. Perhaps the system is not in place in Kerala because of the awareness about their rights. Of course, it has put in its own drawbacks in Kerala which is considered to be the cradle of Trade Unions and collective bargaining.
It is right that the employer will always think that his employees should work with him always. But when the employer fails to keep up the promises given to the candidate at the time of his entry, why don't the employee think of leaving him? Is it proper that when an employee decides to leave the employer can retain the certificates and spoil his career. If any employer is doing so, I must say that that is wrong and that will be deemed as BONDED labour. Even collecting the certificates as a precaution is a bad sign. Why should we collect it, because we are in fear that the employee will leave when he gets a "better" opportunity. Why don't we ourselves give him that "better" opportunity. We know that we can not retain labour and the labour knows that we will lose the job any time.
Now in a highly skilled jobs, will any employer demand that the employee(rather professional) should surrender his certificates and should sign a bond for three years or pay such a high amounts? No, because there the demand is from the employer side and in the supply side there is scarcity. That means only where supply is plenty and demand is less the employers will force for bond and it is that phenomena which compels one to sign bond.
Therefore, a generalisation is not possible and we should not blindly say that we can go ahead with collecting certificates and signing employment bonds. Labour Laws are made to benefit the poor employees and we are supposed to follow it. The Laws are made to protect their interests.
Regards,
Madhu.T.K