No Coercive Action Against Employers For Not Paying Full Salary In Lockdown: SC

Supreme Court suggested to find an amicable solution on the petitions filed by companies, including MSMEs, challenging the Centre's order to make full salary and payment to employees during the 54 days period of lockdown.

Supreme Court Directs Not To Take Coercive Action Against Employers/ Courtesy: Getty Images

New Delhi: In a much-awaited decision by the top apex court on Friday regarding private companies challenging the Centre’s order to pay full salaries to employees during the 54 days in the lockdown, the Supreme Court has asked companies to refrain from taking any coercive action against employers.  Supreme Court announced its judgment on a number of petitions filed by several companies, including MSMEs, challenging the Ministry of Home Affairs order to make full salary and payment to employees during the 54 days period of lockdown imposed to contain the pandemic. The Centre has been asked to file an affidavit. Supreme Court Justice Bhushan said, “We directed no coercive action to be taken against employers. Our earlier orders will continue. A detailed affidavit has to be filed by Centre in last week of July. Negotiation between employees and employers to be facilitated by state government labour departments'. Industries and employees are mutually dependent on each other, hence they have to find an amicable solution to this problem. The court had only directed the parties to discuss and find a midway to the issue. The court had on June 4 observed that some negotiations have to happen between employers and workers to iron out what has to be done for the salary for these 54 days. A bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, and also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M R Shah was hearing a batch of petitions seeking a direction to pay wages to the employees during this lockdown. Prime Minister Modi in his address to the nation during the lockdown had urged employers to be compassionate about their labourers and not deduct their salary. Also Watch