Labour & Human Resources Department, Government of Sindh has issued the official Notification letter in connection with rules regarding employees during Covid-19 lockdown.
No Employee or Worker Affected By Lockdown Can be Fired or Laid Off
In pursuance of the Order No. SO (J-I)/HD/8-1 (04)/2020/ Corona, dated 14th April 2020 issued by Home Department, Government of Sindh and in the wake of rapid increase in transmission of Coronavirus, different Commissioners/Deputy Commissioners of the Province of Sindh have announced lockdown in certain areas of their respective jurisdictions to control the spread of Covid-19 on the recommendations of concerned District Health Officers, Health Department, Government of Sindh.
The Lockdown, as announced by different Commissioners/Deputy Commissioners in their respective jurisdictions) shall be deemed as prescribed period in terms of Clause (i) of Section-2 of the Sindh Covid-19 Emergency Relief Ordinance, 2020 (Sindh Ordinance No.III of 2020) and Employees or Workers of Industrial, Commercial and Shop Establishment, affected due to lockdown are entitled to the relief as envisaged under clause (b) of Sub-Section(2) of Section-3 of the Sindh Ordinance No.III of 2020, which is reproduced as under:
No employee or worker shall be laid off, terminated or removed and the employee shall be paid salary by the employer during the closure of an establishment as indicated in schedule-l
Now, due to lockdown in certain areas, if any worker/laborer who is working in Industrial. Commercial and Shop Establishments, is affected and is unable to reach his/her workplace, shall not be declared as absentee but shall be considered as on duty and shall be entitled for his / her wages, accordingly.
Employees and Workers To Be Paid Due Salaries and Wages As Per Rules
Hence, employers as defined under Section-2(1) (i) of the Sindh Shops & Commercial Establishment Act, 2015 (XII of 2016) and authorized persons under Section-3 of Sindh Payment of Wages Act, 2015 are hereby advised not to deduct the salaries of those workers who are affected by lockdown in their respective areas and to pay them salaries for the prescribed period, as indicated in schedule-I of Sindh Ordinance-III of 2020 to employees/workers, including permanent, contract, daily wages, probationary, temporary & piece-rated and also restrained to layoff, terminate or remove any employee during the prescribed period.
According to Section 4 (1) of the Said Ordinance, whoever contravenes the provision of Section 3, shall be punishable with on spot fine, which may extend up to Rs. 1 Million, or seizure of movable or immovable property or both.
