Lack resources to pay workers, but exodus a worry: Punjab Industry

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 4

Around 4.5 lakh migrant workers, working in factories, brick-kilns and construction sites have got themselves registered with the local administration to go back to their native lands. This has worried the local industry.

• Also read: Over 1000 industrialists seek nod to restart units

‘We’re helpless’

We know the labourers will go back once the lockdown is lifted. It will be a Herculean task for the industry to start afresh with limited force. But how do we pay them salaries when we are not earning a single rupee? — Badish Jindal, Industrialist

Though the industrialists are worried over migrants leaving the city, they expressed helplessness in providing them regular salaries, especially when factories were shut.

“We know the labourers will go back once the lockdown is lifted. It will be a Herculean task for the industry to start afresh with limited labour. But how do we pay them salaries when we are not earning a single penny?” said Badish Jindal, president, Federation of Punjab Small Industries’ Association. Though the state and Central governments gave many assurances to the labourers to stay back, the exodus is a reality.

‘Left in the lurch’

We have been serving the industry for long. But when the crisis unfolded, our employers left us in the lurch. These are hard times and we want to go home. We will return depending on the circumstances. Ajay Pandey, migrant worker

The industrialists said even if they think of starting operations, there were no workers for that.

“We are worried and confused over what to do in these circumstances. The limited labour will demand wages which suit them. The operations in manufacturing units are a challenge now as the trend of leaving Ludhiana by migrants is not going to end. The industry will not come out of the crisis soon,” said Gurmeet Singh Kular, president, Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisations.

A migrant worker Ajay Pandey said, “We have given our whole life to run the industry in Ludhiana. When the crisis began, our employers left us in lurch. These are really hard times for us and we want to go back.”

When asked if he wished to come back, he replied, “Not in the near future, perhaps later, depending on the circumstances.” Another migrant Master Ashok, working at a garment unit, said, “We want to leave the city as soon as possible. Emotional support is more important at this hour than livelihood. Our families back home are worried for us and we want to be with them.”

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