Experts foresee acute labour crisis

CHANDIGARH: As more migrant workers are leaving for their home states, experts foresee acute labour shortage in the coming months.

With only partial reopening of private offices and industry in the city, the demand for workers is low for now, but severe shortages of semi-skilled and unskilled workers can be expected when businesses finally pick up, say experts. A maximum of 33% staff has been allowed to resume work in private sector offices. Industrial activity, too, resumed operations as per the guidelines of the Union home ministry on May 1.

SO FAR, SO GOOD

In the city’s industrial areas, manufacturing activity is yet to pick up, but labour issues have already started to crop up. “Around 25% of the labour is turning up in factories. And 30% of the total workforce is headed home,” said Siddharth Gupta of the Industrial Association of Chandigarh.

“Ancillary units with large manufacturing orders with strict deadlines and export-oriented industries have most to lose in the coming days as the pressure to deliver products will step up,” said Harjit Singh, general secretary of the Furniture Market, Chandigarh.