Left parties and its trade unions on Monday urged Centre, State Governments and Corporate Houses to adopt compassionate approach to employees working in private sector and unorganised sectors. CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanded announcement of economic relief packages to the workers and employers. He also said that no private companies would be allowed to go for retrenchment or salary cut in the wake of Cornoanvirus pandemic situation.

Yechury suggested that there should be moratorium of bank loan repayments to SME, retail traders and EMI payments to employees. “Many countries in the world have announced that the government will guarantee the payment of at least 80 per cent of the salaries being drawn by workers who are now unable to attend work. Government of India should do likewise. Alongside there should be a moratorium on bank loans for a year for SMEs and retail traders as well as on EMIs. Now that the

Finance Bill has been approved by the Parliament, the Central government must set aside separate funds for a substantial package to save the lives and livelihood of crores of people. This is the time to use our resources for saving lives and not be preoccupied by concerns to maintain fiscal discipline,” said Yechury.

CPI’s trade union AITUC urged Government to strengthen the grass root level health administration and economic relief packages to the workers and employees. “ The government should have come out with financial assistance to working people and businesses in case of shut down due to govt. decision to ensure job security and to safe guard the poor, vulnerable needy sections of the society specially those who are daily /casual/contract/migrant workers. The migrant labour is worst hit, nothing to fall back upon. The financial package to them for the periods of lockdown is must. There should be distribution of food packets and drinking water to all these worst hit people during the lockdown,” said Amar Jeet Kaur, AITUC general secretary