Govt taking steps to protect workers' livelihood during lockdown, SHC told.

Byline: Ishaq Tanoli

KARACHI -- The provincial authorities on Monday informed the Sindh High Court that under extraordinary circumstances steps were taken to mitigate the financial crisis and protect the sustenance of workers and labourers during the ongoing lockdown.

The home and labour departments filed comments in around 15 petitions filed by different industrialists against the provincial government for barring them from laying off their workers and employees.

The provincial authorities submitted that the manufacturing units, which remained closed, were under consideration for tax relaxations, etc.

When the petitions of the industrialists as well as a petition against laying off of workers by private establishments came up for hearing before a two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, both the provincial home and labour departments filed comments.

They submitted that Covid-19 was a global pandemic and the governments around the world had taken stringent efforts to contain the spread and the Sindh government in consultation with health experts also decided to enforce the lockdown.

The provincial government felt the responsibility to mitigate the financial crisis arising thereof and decided to protect the sustenance of lower socio-economical strata of the society like labourers and workers and restrictions were imposed on all the employing entities to refrain them from laying off their workers during the lockdown and to ensure provision of their salaries/wages in full, they maintained.

The provincial authorities further submitted that under the extraordinary circumstances, it was our national duty and in accordance with the teachings of Islam to extend support to the needy and poor.

The bench took the comments on record and directed the counsel for petitioners to file rejoinder, if...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT