Centre's directive to pay full wages to workers may push industry to bankruptcy: Amarinder to Modi

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider directives to industry and commercial establishments to pay full wages to their workers during the lockdown period, saying it may push them to bankruptcy.

He urged the Centre to look for innovative solutions to protect the interests of workers in these difficult times without causing irreparable damage to industry and commercial establishments.

In a letter to Modi, Singh sought reconsideration of the order issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, a government release here said.

The relevant part of the order reads: "... that all the employers, be it in the industry or in the shops and commercial establishments, shall make payment of wages to their workers, at their workplace, on the due date, without any deduction, for the period their establishments are under closure during the lockdown."