Industries, Brick Kilns can operate with Migrant Labour – Captain

Chandigarh, March 30 (Punjab Post Bureau) – To address the problem of migrant labourers and prevent their exodus from the state amid the COVID-19 crisis, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has asked all industrial units and brick kilns in the state to commence operations with such migrants if they have adequate provisions to accommodate them safely within the premises.

                The owners of industrial units and brick kilns can commence production if they have enough space to accommodate the migrant labourers and provide them with food, said the Chief Minister and while appealing to the owners to ensure that social distancing is maintained during this period.

            All hygiene precautions must be made fully available at all such industrial facilities for workers, said Captain Amarinder, adding that the owners should also make soap and water freely available for use by the workers and regularly sanitise the common facilities. Hand wash facilities and sanitisers should be placed prominently at strategic points, said the Chief Minister.

            Captain Amarinder reiterated his government’s commitment to ensure that nobody, including such labourers, daily wagers etc, are deprived of food and other basic necessities in this hour of crisis. In line with the Chief Minister’s directives, the Punjab Labour Department has also issued an advisory to employers/owners of private establishments, including Industries, Factories, Shops and Commercial Establishments etc, not to terminate their employees/workers, particularly casual and contractual workers, from their jobs, and not to deduct their wages/salary.

               The Chief Minister said this would be beneficial for both, the industry/brick kiln owners as well as the labourers who had lost their employment and homes in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, and had been left to fend for themselves.