Absentee employees in essential services to face music

New Delhi: As India works on a partial lifting of the lockdown and has identified green zones that can become operational to bring the economy back on its feet, certain states have issued strict orders for employers providing essential services. Labour departments in some states have directed employers providing essential services to penalise employees if they remain absent from work. This can range from salary cut to suspension. The move is aimed at ensuring unhindered supply of essential goods across the country.

Goa, for instance, has said that employees who reside in the state and have been asked to resume their duties by the management of the exempted establishments and industries are expected to report to work in the absence of which, the concerned factory management will be at liberty to initiate “necessary actions” against the erring employees. This comes in the wake of companies producing essential goods, medicines and other basic necessities and shops related to them complaining that basis the directions issued by the Centre and states, employees were absent from work and also demanded payment of salaries for this duration.

Gujarat had earlier said that employees of companies and shops that are deemed 'essential services' are duty-bound to report to their respective workplaces during the lockdown as per instructions issued to them by their employers. If employees do not obey, employers are within their rights to penalise in terms of salary cut or take appropriate disciplinary action against errant employees. “However, such managements will be responsible for the health screening, transport arrangements and other health-related safeguards for the workers who come to work,” said an official.