The Labor Commissioner has issued new guidelines for the operation of the public-private sector, manufacturing sector, plantation, coir, cashew, fish processing sector, institutions and factories in the wake of the second wave of Covid in the state. The circular contains precautionary measures to be taken by employers and workers in the current situation. Employers have been advised to provide possible workers with the opportunity to work from home. Work-from-home facilities should be provided to employees in IT and start-ups, including Technopark and Infopark.
Institutions that employ sales promotion workers must ensure the safety of workers. As the government has tightened the curfew restrictions, workers should be allowed flexible time to report for work. The Labor Commissioner’s circular also states that all rightful leave should be granted to workers. Wages are not to be reduced. Workers are not to be forced to fulfill difficult targets. All private institutions/ organisations/companies should hold meetings online to prevent the spread of the disease.
Measures such as lay-off, lock-out, retrenchment and termination should not be taken during this period. Casual, Temporary, Badouli, Contract, Trainee and Daily Remuneration workers shall not be dismissed or their salaries reduced. In case of dispute, the employer and the contractor should contact the respective District Labor Officers and take action. There is also a special order to avoid labor disputes and strikes.
Money exchange units should only operate under strict security measures. Safety precautions such as soap, hand wash and sanitizer should be made available at the entrances of the establishments. Facilities like masks and gloves should be provided to the employees.
The District Labour Officer (Enforcement) and assistant labour officers must ensure that the offices provides employees with non-alcoholic cleaning wipes, disposable latex gloves and masks in accordance with Rule 6 (4) D of the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Rules, 1961 to ensure the health and safety of the employees in the establishment. In addition, Rule 4 and 5 require employers to comply with all provisions regarding cleanliness and ventilation. Hand washing should be encouraged as much as possible.
The safety instructions provided by the Labour Department, Health Department, Chief Plantation Inspector and Factories Director and the regulations issued by the respective District Collectors must be strictly followed. District Labour Officers (E )s should liaise with the Local Self Government Department, Health Department and District Administration to ensure that accommodation, food and health facilities are available to the migrant workers.
Instructions to be followed by workers:
All workers must be careful to stay away from crowds and to maintain the physical distance prescribed by the government. Do not believe or spread false messages received through new media. Travel should be avoided as much as possible. Vaccines should be registered at www.cowin.gov.in and received at the earliest possible. In any case of noticing symptoms, one should exercise self-control and avoid contact with others immediately and strictly follow the instructions given by the health department officials. Contact Disha on 1056 for hospital / ambulance facilities in case of testing Covid-19 positive. The circular of the Labor Commissioner also directs that the information should be verified by the respective Assistant Labour Officers.
Covid protocols should be followed in primary sectors including agriculture, plantation, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries and secondary sectors like industries, MSME and manufacturing. Rural employment guarantee jobs must continue in accordance with the Covid protocol. The respective District Labour Officers should ensure that safety standards are met in the workplace.
Rules to follow in the plantation sector:
Plantation managements should examine and implement the possibility of organizing mass vaccination camps to prevent the rapid spread of Covid-19. Managements should assist in registering plantation workers on the website www.cowin.gov.in with regard to the vaccination program. Migrant workers are ti be kept on the plantations. Raise awareness on the importance of vaccination and health care. Managements should ensure that all workers on the respective estates are vaccinated. Workers living in the fields should be discouraged from leaving the plantation.
Plantation workers should avoid groups when mastering, salary distribution and determining the weight of tea. Arrangements for this should be made by the management and the availability of sanitizer should be ensured. The estate management should ensure adequate supply of soap, water and sanitizer in the garden canteens and crushes.
Foreigners and visitors must not be allowed to enter plantations and any means of contact between them and the plantation workers should be strictly avoided. Trade unions should refrain from holding workers’ meetings for a specified period of time. Ensure that the dispensaries in the plantations are functioning efficiently.
The instructions of the Department of Health should be written in the mother tongue of the workers and displayed in prominent places in the gardens. Covid protocols should be propagated through loudspeakers. Plantation workers should wash their hands and nails with soap and sanitizer at regular intervals before eating and using other items and places.
Management should try to create awareness among the plantation workers about personal hygiene and Covid-19. Those with symptoms should be advised to stay in their own homes. They should seek immediate medical attention.
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Control rooms set up for Migrant workers
Special control rooms and a 24-hour call center complete with interpreters for migrant workers to respond in their own language, have been set up in all the districts of the state. The toll free numbers of the call center at the Labor Commissionerate are 155214 and 180042555214.
Details of control rooms and call centers in districts:
1.Thiruvananthapuram 0471 2783944
2.Kollam 0474 2794820
- Pathanamthitta 04682222234
- Alappuzha 0477 2253515
- Kottayam 04812564365
- Idukki 0486 2222363
7.Ernakulam 04842423110 - Thrissur 0487 2360469
9.Palakkad 04912505584
10.Malappuram 04832734814
11.Kozhikode 04952370539
12.Wayanad 04936203905
13.Kannur 0497 2700353
14.Kasargod 04994 256050