COVID-19 pandemic: Labor Commissioner ordered not to end employees
Since its spread, the planet has been battling the COVID-19 virus. As the worst-hit state in India, Maharashtra has taken big measures to keep the public safe by locking all public spaces, business offices and food joints.
The government made steady attempts to combat the deadly disease with a view to the COVID-19 pandemic and advised people to stay at home. Dr Mahendra Kalyankar, Labor Commissioner of Maharashtra state, has released a letter requesting all public and private enterprise employers to expand their cooperation by not ending or reducing their employees, especially casual and contract workers. If any employee takes leave, he should be considered to be in duty for this time, without any consequential deduction.
This can lead to the employer dispensing with the employment of the workforce or requiring workforce/employees to go on leave without salaries.
In addition, if COVID-19 makes the place of employment non-operative, the workers of this unit would be considered to be on duty’ reads the letter.
The termination of an employee’s job or pay cuts in this situation will further exacerbate the crisis and not only worsen the employee’s financial position but hamper their conscience to fight this epidemic.
