The Ministry of Labour & Employment issued a statement saying that the world is facing a catastrophic situation due to an outbreak of COVID-19.  In order to combat this challenge, coordinated joint efforts of all sections of the society are required. In view of the current crisis, there may be incidence that employees/workers are forced to go on leave without salaries. 

The government has issued an advisory asking private and public employers to not cut salaries or sack employees amid the coronavirus crisis. The statement said, “In the backdrop of such challenging situation, all the employers of public/private establishments are advised to extend their coordination by not terminating their employees, particularly casual or contractual workers from the job or reduce their wages.”

The advisory also pointed out that if any worker takes leave, he/she should be deemed to be on duty without any consequential deduction in wages for this period. The ministry stressed that 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. 

The Labour Ministry insisted that the termination of employees from the job or reduction in wages in this scenario would further deepen the crisis and will not only weaken the financial condition of the employee but also hamper their morale to combat their fight with this epidemic.