WFH as default to stop COVID-19 in India, says industry body

As India grapples with a soaring number of COVID-19 cases and a healthcare crisis, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged that businesses restrict non-essential economic activity requiring workers to work physically at the workplace for the next two weeks. 

“This is necessary to break the chain of transmission,”  said the president of the non-profit organisation, Uday Kotak.

Firms should review operations and minimise the use of in-person manpower, limiting it to critical operations or activities required by law, he said. “All responsible corporates should strive to protect their employees and ensure that their employee balance sheet remains healthy,” he added.

CII and industry players have been working alongside the government to ramp up the production of medicines and medical supplies. “However, in spite of all efforts, the overall numbers continue to rise. The healthcare system and medical personnel are stretched to the limit and exhausted.”

READ: Indian government advises staff to WFH

“Measures to break the chain of transmission are of paramount importance to mitigate human tragedy and loss of lives, alongside augmenting health infrastructure and medical supplies”, said Kotak, reports Business Standard.