Won’t take blame for virus spread, say industrialists

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 20

The state industry has refused to take up the Covid-19 challenge.

With the well-being of the labour being “thrust upon them” as a pre-condition to allow them to operate their units, the industrialists have decided not to resume operations.

Today was the first day of relaxation in the curfew in non-containment zones. Industries have been allowed to operate provided they make the labour stay inside the premises following social distancing norms and agree to be held liable in case any labourer is found to be infected.

In Ludhiana, industrialists have decided against opening their units. Mudit Sood, an exporter of auto parts, said, “We have been clearly told that in case any employee is found positive, an FIR will be registered against the factory owner. How can I guarantee this?”

Gurmeet Kular, president of the Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisations, Ludhiana, said it was unfair to hold them responsible. “It is the time when the industry needs government’s support. Earlier, the industry was asked to pay wages to all employees for April in advance or face legal action. We are ready to face any prosecution, but we strongly oppose such moves,” he said, adding that the onus of containing the virus spread should be on the government.

In Jalandhar, which is a hotspot, industrialists say that they won’t be able to pay the wages for the time the labour was not working, nor would they be able to house labour within the premises once the relaxation is announced. Ashok Katyal, a sports goods manufacturer, said “Our orders from Europe and America have been suspended. The future seems bleak as sports goods will be the least priority for customers once the lockdown ends.”

In Phagwara, which is home to food processing, textile, and farm equipment industry, industrialists are asking similar questions. AS Kohli, a tractor parts manufacturer, and vice president of Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters, said other than JCT Mills, which had the capacity to house workers, others had decided against opening the industry at least till May 3. “Though the government is trying to revive the economic activity, a lot needs to be done. Interest-free loans, equivalent to 30 per cent of the turnover of the industrial units in 2019-20, should be given for a period of three years,” he said.

Address their concerns: SAD

• The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday asked CM Capt Amarinder Singh to assuage the fears of industrialists, “who are being threatened with FIRs in case Covid spreads in their units”.
• In a statement, former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said: “This is one of the major reasons why industrialists are not taking the risk of resuming operations.”
• “On one hand, the government has asked them to start their units, while on the other, it is threatening them,” he added.