Govt to pay ₹1,000 to construction workers

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 23, 2020

The state government has decided to pay ₹1,000 to building and other construction workers in order to mitigate the distress faced by them during the lockdown to prevent spread of COVID-19 in the state.

It has also directed owners of public/private establishments to ensure that employees are not terminated.

According to the order issued by the principal secretary in-charge Labour DP Wahlang on Monday, the amount will be paid to workers who are registered with the labour commissioner.

“…the department has decided and approved to pay an amount of ₹1,000 per worker per week for the wages foregone on account of the shutdown on commercial operations and business establishments in the state of Meghalaya,” Wahlang said.

He said this order will be applicable for the present from March 23 till March 29 and will be reviewed further on March 30.

The labour department has also directed owners of public/private establishments to ensure that employees are not to be terminated or forced to go on leave without wages/salaries.

“If any worker takes leave, he should be deemed to be on duty without any consequential deduction in wages for this period. If the place of employment is to be made non-operational due to COVID-19, the employees of such unit will be deemed to be on duty. No action should be taken by the employer which could weaken the financial condition of the employee and deepen the crisis further,” it said.