VIOLATING the government advisories and guidelines the Pricol Managment in Coimbatore has deducted 30% of the workers’ wages from March to July during Lockdown period through a one-sided circular. The All India Central Council of Trade Unions has critisised this act saying the Pricol Management cannot invoke No work no pay principle. A March 29 central Govt order makes it clear that deduction of wages during the lockdown will be construed as a legal offence. This order was passed u/s- 10(2)(1) of National Disaster Management Act, 2005 and further non-compliance of orders is punishable with fine and imprisonment u/s-51(b) NDMA Act.
The AICCTU has also criticised the concerned governmental agencies for remaining mute spectator while the workers are facing hardships throughout the country. This has been demanded from the TN State and Central governments to immediately withdraw the said order deducting 30% of wages and pay full wages to all workers, and to prosecute the Pricol Management u/s-51(b) National Diasaster Management Act, 2005 for the illegal wage cut. There should be no layoffs and retrenchments and no deduction of wages in the name of the pandemic.
