Locked down FMCG firms send an SOS to Center; We have jobs, give us workers

Locked down FMCG firms send an SOS to Center; We have jobs, give us workers – The message India’s top commodity companies like HUL, Nestle, PepsiCo, Parle Products, Britannia, ITC and Mondelez have sent to the govt, allow us to hire more, in order that we produce more.

“As companies build up operations, there’s an urgent got to enhance labor footprint within norms of social distancing to reinforce essential food availability,” the letter, addressed to the ministry of food processing industries and therefore the empowered committee on supply chain & logistics, says.

These companies want clearances to run facilities with a 75% cap on worker deployment in green and orange zones, and a 50-60% cap in red zones (excluding containment areas). the present cap is 33%. The communication has been sent to the government through CII. ET has reviewed a replica of the letter.

The letter has also sought relief from the Factories Act and requested that governments clear 12-hour workdays with overtime pay, against the stipulated eight hours, altogether states. It says this could be through with the consent of workers, which over time are going to be paid in proportion to normal wages. State responses to over time haven’t been uniform. Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana have said they permit overtime, while others haven’t taken a stand.

“Why should there be a cap on the labor workforce percentage?” said Britannia Industries MD Varun Berry. “Also, the relief on work hours should be made national, and not vary for various states.”

“All of this may help us meet consumer demand adequately. We request for a typical procedure on an equivalent,” Berry said.

Labour availability remains a serious issue even in green and orange zones and this must be addressed with state labour secretaries as local police permissions are extremely difficult.

Industry executives said supplies of essentials still be the maximum amount as 50% but demand even after restrictions are eased. “Severe supply constraints from FMCG companies remain as they aren’t producing quite 50% of stocks listed with us. On essentials, supply is way but demand,” said Arvind Mediratta, director, Metro Cash & Carry as Parle is operating at 60-65% capacity; production has got to be increased to fulfill consumer demand which is growing very rapidly.”

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