Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 1: Labour Commissioner of the State, Sarmad Hafeez, today said action will be taken against firms who terminated or slashed salaries of employees in the wake of unrest in Kashmir.
The Commissioner said that the department is meant to safeguard the rights of the employees and where ever it finds injustice law will be implemented. “We will safeguard the rights of the employee and law will be implemented where ever it is necessary,” he said.
When asked about the termination of employees and slashing of salaries, by some firms, Sarmand said: “We haven’t received any complaints and anybody who wants to make a complaint should come to us. We will see into it and take immediate action if necessary”.
The Commissioner was responding to the reports that the private sector employees are bearing the brunt of ongoing unrest in Kashmir as hundreds of employees have been either shown the door or denied salaries during the turmoil.
Most of the people working in private sector including teachers in private schools, those working in some pharmaceutical, automobile companies, shops etc have not been paid their salaries or some have given half salaries and others have been fired from the services.
Shabir Ahmad, an employee at a reputed automobile company said they have been clearly told that they won’t be paid the salaries of past two months. “My company told me that they have a simple law: no work, no salary”, he said.
“We have not done any business for last two months and have also suffered huge losses. How can they pay you?”, the owner of the company told employees.
Shabir said he has been working with the company for the last 10 years and has never faced any problem. “Even during 2010 unrest, the company paid us. I don’t know what happened this time. I have married a few months back and need money. I tried to take up the issues with the higher ups in my company but they told me to quit or comply,” the private employee said.
According to sources, some of the employees have to face termination or pay cut as the companies “could not afford their services” which has rendered hundreds jobless.
“My company has told me that they will pay only 30 percent of the salary for past two months. Majority of clients are from South Kashmir which is on boil. I put my life at risk and attended some of my clients but even then they paid me peanuts”, Ghulam Rasool, a technician at a local private company, said.
However, the employers are lamenting about the loss they have to suffer. “We have not done any business in last two months. We have suffered immensely due to the situation. We have taken hefty loans to kick-start our business and is accumulation of interest liability,” a Valley-based top businessman, said.
However, Managing Director of a Travel Agency whose business is shut since July said that he has paid full salary to his employees for last two months. “I have to pay Rs one lakh per month and how long will I can do it when business is totally shut. I may have cut their salaries if the unrest continues”, he said.
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