Sindh government has barred employers from firing workers amid Coronavirus lockdown and has directed them to count the lockdown period as paid leave.
According to an official notification issued under section 3 of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014, no employer shall lay off any worker during the lockdown period. Employers are bound to pay full salaries to the workers and consider lockdown as paid leave.
In case an employer violates the issued directions, the government will hold the employer accountable under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code as described in section 4 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, the notification states.
Sindh government has now authorized directors and joint directors of the labor department to record any legal action against the violators of the said order.
Following the issuance of the latest order, alliance of labor rights groups has expressed their pleasure over the decision through a joint statement:
Issuance of the notification by the Sindh government is a welcome decision and this decision should be implemented strictly all over the province.
On 17th March, representatives of different labor rights groups had called on Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah. The labor groups had demanded the Sindh government to ensure that the rights of the workers are protected during the lockdown.
Via: The News
