Textile company moves SC against govt order for payment of full wages during coronavirus lockdown

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking quashing of a government order asking employers to pay full salary to staffers and contract and casual workers during the lockdown to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

The petition filed by Nagreeka Exports Limited, engaged in manufacture and export of cotton yarns, fabric and textiles, stated in its plea that because of stoppage of operations since the lockdown began on March 25, it has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1.50 crore till the filing of the plea.

"On top of that, as per the said orders dated March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2020, petitioner had to disburse full salaries to all its employees on its payroll, which amounts to approximately Rs 1.75 crore," the petition said.

The plea has challenged the constitutional validity of the Government Order dated March 29, 2020 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs only to limited extent being that "all the employers, be it in the industry or in the shops and commercial establishments, shall make payment of wages of their workers, at their work places, on the due date, without any deduction, for the period their establishments are under closure during lockdown period."