Chairman Vidarbha Chapter, Chamber of Small Industry Associations (COSIA), Shri Mayank Shukla, thanked the Hon’ble Finance Minister, for extending the period of support from Government to EPF contributions by another three months.
The government’s support to an employee as well as employer’s contribution, for a total period of six months will not only ease out the employer’s liquidity problem but will, more importantly, enable the employees to carry a pay packet heavier by 12%.
But unfortunately, a rider of more than 90% employees in the industrial unit must be withdrawing below 15,000/- per month has deprived more than 90% of the units taking benefit of this relief. Shukla said.
As we understand the basic objective of any relief is to reach maximum people, rather than curtailing the number.
In this case, not only employer is a sufferer but the poor employee is more aggrieved as he will carry a lighter pay packet than his colleague working in the same size of unit, & this may create an atmosphere of discontent amongst the worker. A token reduction of contribution from 12% to 10% (for employers as well as employees) in case of another left out MSME industries will not serve any purpose, Shukla feared.
In this hour of PANDEMIC disease crisis, the quantum of relief to an individual may be less but should reach the maximum sufferers, which will be a healing touch to them, but any kind of discrimination will add to the mental agony of victims.
The sentiments of masses were conveyed to the administration but may have been overlooked because of any reasons, which can be taken care even now, to show that the sincere efforts of Government are truly justified.
In furtherance to this Vice-Chairman, COSIA, CA Julfesh Shah said that enough job opportunities for the workforce is to be created, which is mainly possible through the MSME sector. This can be encouraged through proper reforms in Labour Laws. The prevailing ones are age-old and obsolete in today’s scenario and need a drastic change.
We duly support the safety of workers at the workplace and also a respectable decent lifestyle fulfilling all their basic needs and security to the job, but at the same time employers also need a justifiable and assured minimum return to their expenditure on labour component. They should be given more teeth to punish defaulters and reward deserving ones.
If the job creators are incentivised for the proper management of labour force more job opportunities will be created and more number of corporates, MNCs will be attracted to shift in our country, Shah added.
Apart from labourers anxious to return home after over a month of rough, jobless existence, businesses are also being squeezed by problems of logistics and transportation and financial hardships owing to the lockdown & April-June quarter would be a washout even for the big and mighty, but may prove to be catastrophic for SMEs & proper planning of funds & labour need to be worked out for its revival & sustainability, Shah concluded.
