Amid Covid lockdown, small traders struggle to pay wages

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 11

The Covid-induced crisis has crippled small entrepreneurs across the state and they are struggling to pay rents and salaries to their employees. Moreover, facing losses, many have started shutting their businesses.

Though the state government allowed opening of business last month, till date it has failed to pick up pace. Being the education hub, many universities, colleges and around 200 ILETS and immigration centres were running in the district and more than 20,000 students were staying here. But since all educational institutes are closed, students have left.

Many small entrepreneurs like juice sellers, eatery owners, stationery and gift shop owners, who were dependent on these students, have been hit hard and are battling for survival. Even event sector, which includes DJ, florist, decoration and caterer, have been hit hard as wedding parties and functions are not taking place.

Dispute between tenants and land owners have been reported in the state where owner is not ready to waive rent during lockdown and tenant is not ready to pay. Some have approached court while some vacated shop.

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal had visited markets in the city a few days ago after which he had tweeted: “Whether it is sweet shop owners, electrical goods sellers or tailors, the pain and anguish of shopkeepers is visible. Business sentiment has never been so low”.

Gursharan Singh, president, Dhobi Bazaar Market Association, said, “Shops are open, but customers are not coming due to which shopkeepers are facing problem in paying rents and salaries to their staff.” City-based jeweller Daravjit Thakur said the situation was quite bad in the market. He said he had suggested a few measures to the minister to simulate economy in the state.