Indian industry has asked the government to reconsider some of the new guidelines allowing economic activities this Monday onward. The new suggestions include allowing business as usual in all areas except containment zones and easing of rules governing factories and production facilities.
"While the restart of economic activities takes place, certain items relating to operations across the entire supply chain could be further included to enable smooth operations," said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of CII, adding, "CII has suggested continued stringent lockdown in specified containment zones with rest of the identified hotspot districts to be open to economic activities with adequate safety measures,”
Companies have also called on the government to ease the guidelines governing social distancing, shifts and operating of units in areas other than SEZs. Specifically, it requested the government that larger manufacturing plants should not be subject to complete closure on detection of a COVID-19 patient in one part of the plant.
The industry chamber has submitted its recommendation to the government, which it says is based on inputs received from industry members across the country. The CII submission to the government also hoped that states would issue guidelines in accordance with those recommended by Ministry of Home Affairs and not take stricter measures.
India Inc's recommendation is this: identify and demarcate red zone districts, but allow industrial activities in non-containment zones of even these districts. CII also pointed out how certain activities related to sectors allowed to function from Monday also need to be permitted to ensure operations run smoothly. Secondly, it also called for easing limits on activities related to sectors that have opened up so that operations run smoothly. For example, components and service workshops need to be allowed to work along with the rest of the auto sector.
Industry has also complained about the rules of social distancing, arguing that rules like one hour gap between shifts and making workers stay within factory premises are not feasible. If office space permits, it also called for allowing more than 50 per cent of the staff to start working from office in the IT and ITeS segment. It also called for clarity on the guideline allowing industries to work from SEZs, export units etc.
