Supreme Court: Employers, Employees To Negotiate On Lockdown Period Wages

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked employers and employees to negotiate between themselves on matters relating to payment of wages during the lockdown period following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. The apex court also said that the earlier order stating that no coercive action should be initiated against employers with regard to the March 29 notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) forcing them to pay full wages, continues to remain in force.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan, Justice SK Kaul and Justice MR Shah passed the order today. The bench observed that no industry could survive without workers and therefore employers and employees needed to negotiate and settle issues related to payment of wages among themselves for wages to be paid for 54 days of the lockdown period.

The apex court bench further said that if they could not arrive at a settlement, they would need to approach the labour authorities in the state to sort matters out. In other words, state governments would be required to facilitate negotiations between employers and employees in the matter if they fail to arrive at a settlement among themselves.

The Supreme Court further said workers who are ready work should be permitted to do so irrespective of any disputes with regard to wages. The Bench further observed that the court order should be circulated through labour departments to facilitate negotiations.

The Supreme Court will once again hear the matter in the last week of July. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will submit an affidavit spelling out details of its March 29 directive in the next hearing of the Supreme Court.