The chamber has asked government consider wage subsidy for employers, extending provident contribution to all establishments and allowing CSR funds to be used for personal protective equipments being used by essential services companies.Industry body Ficci has written to labour ministry to extend fiscal benefits to the private security industry involving security staff and housekeeping staff among others to help prevent job losses during the ongoing pandemic.
As part of the five-point request to the government, the industry body has urged government ensure customer organisations make full wage payment to private security guards, hospital cleaning and support services staff, pest control and fumigation workers, cash van and ATM crews during lockdown period from March 24 to May 3, 2020.
“Our services have been recognised as ‘essential sector’ soon after the lockdown
was implemented. More than 50 lakh security workers and 12,000 cash vans are operating round the clock to support government machinery in ensuring essential services since then,” Rituraj Sinha, chair, Ficci committee on private security industry said in his letter to labour minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
The chamber has asked government consider wage subsidy for employers, extending provident contribution to all establishments and allowing CSR funds to be used for personal protective equipments being used by essential services companies.
Besides, it has urged government consider extending the Rs 50 lakh COVID health cover even for security guards, cleaners, ATM and cash van crew and other essential services workers “as they continue to serve at risk of life during lockdown”.
According to Ficci, the sector which employs nearly one crore people is in acute financial distress and can lead to loss of millions of jobs in the country.
“Our customers are already advising us about 3-4 months delay in payments, expecting us to waive the 5%-8% service charges that sustain us and have also advised on reducing staff strength and service volumes,” it said in the letter, adding there will be an estimated 25% – 50% decline in revenues for the industry in next coming months.
Source: indiatimes.com
