Manufacturing companies see challenges in phased exit from lockdown

MUMBAI|KOLKATA: The government’s plan to ease the lockdown through a phased exit plan is fraught with challenges and difficult to implement, senior executives from manufacturing companies told ET.With the industry department recommending reopening of at least 16 manufacturing segments to get the wheels of the economy going, some companies are likely to be given permission to start partial operations soon. Indications are that production will start with a single shift with complete emphasis on the safety and health of the workers.However, HR managers are a worried lot as they may face practical challenges, because plants may not be fully equipped to provide infrastructural facilities. This would primarily involve transport and boarding/lodging for the workers who may have to stay over at the plant premises if the rules so demand. What is also worrying HR heads is the task to maintain social distancing for these workers, an HR executive said.While agreeing that workers should not be allowed to use public transportation, Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava said lodging more than 20,000 workers of the company would be impossible in the current set up. Bhargava, however, said a final decision on this would be taken only when the guidelines come into effect.TVS Motor chairman Venu Srinivasan said to provide for lodging of 5,000 employees would be difficult. Instead, companies can provide other amenities. "In the current locker system, the changing rooms are too close to each other. What we can do is maintain social distancing and give the workers transportation facility on our buses which are sanitised regularly. In addition, normal working hours for the plant workers can be reduced," he said.

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