Businesses face issue in movement of workers: Confederation of Indian Industry

New Delhi: Although Centre has allowed operations in several sectors, although partial for some, and state governments have also communicated the resumption guidelines for economic activities, businesses are facing difficulties in movement of workers and raw materials to commence their operations, according to a nationwide survey by CII.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of Confederation of Indian Industry said: “The CII survey indicates that permits for enterprises, passes for workers and supply chain movement are the key hurdles for the industry in exit from lockdown.

He said that the industry body has suggested that in non-containment zones, businesses should be allowed to function without requirement of permits and only through intimation to local authorities. Workers can be permitted to commute on the basis of a letter issued by the employer organization, with the facility to travel on their own vehicles, Banerjee said.

CII conducted the survey to determine the effectiveness of the exit from lockdown in specified zones and sectors and elicited responses from across the country, covering many sectors and enterprises of all sizes.

The survey showed that as many as 39 percent of respondents claimed that there was disruption and delay in the movement of inputs and finished goods for operations, whereas 23 percent stated that materials were not available at all. Only 15 percent businesses in the sample felt that the movement of goods was timely.

The survey was carried on respondents from across sectors, states and scales, a CII statement said.

Regarding movement of workers, as many as 42 per cent of respondents in the survey stated that passes for employees are delayed or not available. Similarly, two-thirds of those surveyed pointed out that transportation of employees between the workplace and home is an issue.

As a result, the employee strength of 58 per cent of enterprises was below 25 per cent, with less than one-tenth respondents having an employment strength of more than half. This also indicated that social distancing norms are being followed, according to the statement. (IANS)

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