Amid the national lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a fresh order on Sunday directing that employers should pay wages to their workers at their place of work without deduction during the period of lockdown.

The order also restrains landlords from collecting rent for a period of one month from workers, including migrant workers, living in rented accommodation.

"All the employees, be it in the Industry or in the shops and commercial establishments, shall make payment of wages of their workers, at their work places, on the due date, without any deduction, for the period their establishments are under closure during the lockdown"

"If any landlord is forcing labourers and students to vacate their premises, they will be liable for action under the [Disaster Management] Act", the order stated.

The order was issued by Home Secretary on Sunday afternoon invoking powers under Section 10(2)(l) of the Disaster Management Act 2005, in the backdrop of reports of hundreds of migrant workers struggling to move out of cities to their native places.

The order directs State authorities to ensure that state and district borders are effectively closed and that people do not move across these boundaries during the country wide lockdown.

States have now been directed to ensure there is no movement of people across cities or on highways.

Only movement of goods should be allowed. DMs and SPs should be made personally responsible for implementation of these directions which have been issued under the DM Act.

It has been advised that adequate arrangements for food and shelter of poor and needy people including migrant laborers be made at the place of their work. Centre had yesterday issued orders for use of SDRF funds for this purpose. Sufficient funds are available with States in this head.

States have been also told to ensure timely payment of wages to labourers at their place of work during the period of lockdown without any cut. House Rent should not be demanded from the labourers for this period. Action should be taken against those who are asking labourers or students to vacate the premises.

Those who have violated the lockdown and traveled during the period of lockdown will be subject to minimum 14 days of quarantine in government quarantine facilities. Detailed instructions on monitoring of such persons during quarantine have been issued to States.

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