Government of the Punjab, Labour & Human Resources Department has issued the official Notification letter on 22nd June, 2020 in connection with Govt employees of lockdown areas not Penalized due to absence from work.
The Punjab Government, according to the Home Security Order, announced a rise in the number in the Punjab Province and Pakistan of Coronavirus pandemics that pose a serious threat to public health and the public order. All possible safety measures to prevent and control pandemic disease are therefore mandatory.
The controlled exit and entry in the hotspot areas of COVlD-19 disease, as announced shall be deemed to ensure public safety, conserve lives, and maintain peace and tranquility in the Province of Punjab in pursuance of instructions from National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) dated 20th June, 2020. Provincial Govt / federating units to issue notification that residents of lockdown areas will not be penalized due to absence from work.
Now, due to controlled exit and entry in the hotspot areas, if any worker/labourer 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.
Hence, employers as defined under Section-2 of the Punjab Shops & Commercial Establishments Ordinance, 1969 (VIII of 1969) and employer including authorized persons under Section-3 of Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (IV of 1936) are hereby directed not to deduct the wages / salaries of those workers who are affected by controlled exit and entry in the hotspot areas and to pay them wages / salaries for the prescribed period to employees/Workers, Including permanent, contract, daily wages, probationary, temporary & piece-rated and also restrained to lay off, terminate or remove any employee during the prescribed period. Any person who is found guilty of the contravention of the said laws shall be liable to the penalties provided under the said laws.
