The globalized world was heading towards new heights before the COVID-19 came into existence. This unexpected biological disaster sealed the boundaries and Distorted the supply chain by restricting the freedom of trade and freedom of movement. The outbreak of the Corona Virus leads to the countrywide lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. The restriction is imposed lawfully to prevent the spread of the virus. The impact of this nationwide lockdown is now visible on the laborers and their wages. The lockdown restricts the person from doing anything until and unless that relates to the necessity which is leading to certain Economic problems like Unemployment. The right of livelihood is being suffered and the salary of employees is at stake. The economy is going through various changes because the spread like reallocation of resources becomes the need of the hour.
The International Organization working for the Labor and their rights considered the matter and released a Joint Statement on COVID-19 stating the virus is a threat to the livelihoods of workers and employers globally. They evaluated the impact of the virus upon business and employment and demanded quick action from the International Organization (The International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization (WHO)) to resolve the matter. They focused on a few issues like income security, protection of life and livelihood, policy coordination and coherence, a strong health system, and other policies to deal with the situation.
The Organization recommended certain guidelines for the Workers which include maintaining social distancing and taking proper hygiene measures. The employees are required to avoid touching their face without proper cleansing and cover mouth with a mask. The advisory suggests staying calm and encourages helping behavior by maintaining a physical distance. One must contact the doctors in case any symptoms show up. Also, the guidelines for Employers include monitoring the advisories provided by the municipal laws and follow them with complete care. The ILO suggested estimating the potential risk of disruption in the business and review a plan that can reduce the risk and can be implicated by following the government guidelines. They are advised to promote hygiene among the employees and reduce the meetings which can be exposed to the COVID-19.
The analysis made by the Organization of Employers and International Trade Union Confederation was reviled in a press release by ILO stating the effect of the pandemic examined and the report stating that the outbreak of Virus may result in the reduction in the need of workers which may be equal to the 195 million full-time workers around the globe. The estimates say that the upcoming economic crises may be more than the crises of 2008-09
The Ministry of Labor and Employment, Government of India issued an advisory to maintain an economic balance with the employer and employee for those who are obliged to take leave because of pandemics and not getting paid. The advisory issued demanded cooperation in the need of the hour and ask to reduce the salary as far as possible rather than not paying anything. The Ministry of Labor and Employment, Government of India wrote the letter to the All Workers’ Organization and Employers’ Organization on 19 March mentioning all the Do’s and Don’ts for the employees concerning the virus. The precautions include the proper sanitization facilities and hygienic levels at the workplace and avoid touching the surface and objects of the exposed object. The precaution like physical distancing, hand-wash, wearing masks and monitoring the symptoms.
The threat on the Job and Employees is an International concern that needs to be resolved by sufficient means. The world has witnessed a drastic fall in the sector of food accommodation, retail and wholesale, business service and administration, manufacturing, etc. the impact will last for a few years. The most instantly visible impact was observed in India when landless laborers moved to their villages for survival. The movement was difficult due to the shutting down of public transport and they traveled on roads without any vehicle, which is settled by the steps taken by the governments. The ILO in its observed that Agriculture is yet to face the worst effect. The impact of this lockdown is being visible in many sectors of the economy, which expected to increase until an indefinite time.
The concern is equally relevant for the frontline warriors like Doctors, Police Officers, nursing staff, people engaging in the Food- Chain, etc. as they are the wheels for the Country’s train, no nation can run without them. They need to be protected by proper sanitization and protection. Adequate measures are necessary for the employed labor. We must not have forgotten that the Labor right includes the right of livelihood, proper wages, a healthy work environment, etc., the work environment is needed to be protected and requires the necessary steps to be taken.
In India, we have various acts and statutes to protect the rights of the labor and ensure basic human necessity in the time of need. Provision of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, Payment of Wages Act, 1937, Contract Labor Act, 1970, Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 is explicitly made for the financial security of the labor. The Industrial Dispute Act in its sections 25C and 25M provides provisions related to such an emergency where the wages can be reduced by 50% for 45 days but the leave without pay is not a correct legal way to deal with such situations. The companies shall pay some amount of salary till the date the company can afford. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 which empowers the government to invoke the worldwide lockdown also makes provision to provide basic financial aids to the workers, commercial to service in situations like this unexpected breakdown.
Summing up, the world is facing this biological war against the human race which is impacting various adverse impacts. In India, the condition of the poor is getting worst, and the employee or workers are facing a huge problem in the job. The lockdown is making the economic situation worst. The companies have asked their employee to take leave without pay, which is impacting the survival of the family of employees. Further, the threat of losing the job is increasing with time. To protect the interest of laborers and save the people going below the poverty line and make sure they manage to earn minimum wages for survival. To attain the minimum basic requirements for all we need strict policies for the welfare of the laborers from immediate effect to protect the interest of the laborers otherwise the recovery period may turn the country into a poor nation. The estimated data shows that India may face.
