From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 12: The B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government, which has made it a habit of issuing orders and withdrawing them quickly especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, has done it again. The controversial notification extending the maximum work hours from 8 to 10 per day and from 48 hours to 60 hours per week for all factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948 has now been withdrawn.

The State Government in its notification issued on May 22 had extended the work hours for three months or till August 21. Now, the State Labour Department deputy secretary Sandhya L Nayak said the State Government has withdrawn the notification on extending work hours in factories.
Many trade unions had vehemently opposed the government’s order on extending the work timings.

 B S Yediyurappa

The trade union leaders had met Labour minister Shivaram Hebbar and chief secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar and had registered their protest against increased work hours.

BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh government headed by Yogi Aditynanath too had withdrawn the order on increasing work hours in factories after the decision was challenged in the Allahabad High Court.

Meanwhile, the State Finance Department has issued a circular directing all government and semi-government agencies, boards and corporations to pay salary/wages to contract employees, workers and daily wagers for their services hired before and after the lockdown period in the state.

The State Government had fixed the lockdown period from March 24 to May 18, the circular said. However, the lockdown had been subsequently extended and is now being relaxed in phases.