Sikkim Directs Migrants' Employers to Pay Them Their Wages Despite Lockdown

Gangtok, March 30, 2020:

The Sikkim government in an order issued on Monday has directed the employers of migrant workers to pay them their wages for the duration of the lockdown and also asked the landlords of the daily wagers not to charge house rent for the same period. Meanwhile, the State's CM has also cautioned the migrant workers not to leave the boundaries of the state and to stay put where they are. If they fail to comply, they will be sent to jail, said the Chief Minister.

The order comes in the wake of reports that migrant workers have been defying the lockdown and are trying to leave the state for their homes in the neighbouring states, and the Centre’s directive issued on Sunday asking the states to seal the inter-state borders in order to detest migrant workers from leaving their place of work.

“That the contractors/employers of such labourers (read migrant workers) 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 the lockdowns,” said the official order.

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The order further added: “That where such labourers are living in rented accommodation, the landlords of those properties shall not demand payment of rent for a period of one month”, while warning of legal action against those found violating the directive.

A senior officer of the Sikkim labour department quoting official record said there are 8113 migrant workers in the state. “It however is difficult to say if all of them are presently in the state. Many of them might have moved out either because of their floating nature or due to the lockdown,” the officer added.

Bhaichung Bhutia, the president of Hamro Sikkim Party, has come forward in aid of the migrant workers. “If there are any migrant workers who do not have a place to stay, I and United Sikkim Football Club want to help. We will provide them accommodation in my unfinished building at Lumsey Tadong. I am in touch with government authorities and let us all come together to solve their problem,” he said in a video message released here.

Indra Hang Subba, the Lok Sabha member of Sikkim, on his part, called for the extension of the relief measures announced by the state government for the economically weaker sections of the society to the migrant workers as well.

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Meanwhile, the healthcare workers protested at the North Bengal Medical College today and have placed demand for some basic protective gear for doctors and nurses.

North Bengal Medical College and Hospital is the nodal centre for COVID19 for the entire North Bengal region. Staff are demanding personal protective equipment and even basic things like gloves and hand sanitizers.

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