COVID second wave creating issues for businesses in Chennai and TN
Posted on: 20/Apr/2021 9:17:36 AM
Just when it seemed that the state of TN has been recovering well after the first Covid-19 wave with the businesses picking up, this second Covid-19 wave has halted the revival plans of the state businesses. The plans to bring back more staff to the offices have been disrupted now.
The industrial clusters now have been hit hard by the restrictions in the night movement and labour shortage etc. It is important to note that the services sector has gone back on plans to open up workspaces to achieve better collaboration.
The out of state labour has started going back again and this has led to the huge impact on the industries in TN. For larger factories, the restriction in the night movement has been affecting the movement of labour. This was pointed out by Mr. A. Soundarajan, a labour activist. Truth is that the textile clusters of Tiruppur and Foundries of Coimbatore have been affected now.
According to Mr, Vikas Bajaj, president, association of India Forging Industry, the forging sector in Chennai has been affected badly and this was due to the non-availability of oxygen. He hinted that the guest workers have been leaving Chennai to their native places and this has also resulted in many issues for the industry. Truth is that 30% to 40% of workers are temporary workers in the forging industry.
Hybrid systems are followed in the automakers and white collar staff are coming for just limited days now. In the Ford Company shifts are continuing even now and it was brought out by a source from Hyundai India that clarity regarding running the third shift at the night time has been sought.
There are many companies such as TVS Motors, Daimler India etc that have cut down the workers in their factories and have also vaccinated both employees and their families. Point is that the support functions have been asked to do work from home or WFH now.
Cognizant Technology Solutions or CTS is one of the leading IT companies and this company has set 1st July as its earliest return to office target date. In Chennai, global shared services centres have earlier planned to open up gradually in June and now September month is being considered. Various other IT firms in Chennai like GAVS Tech, OrangeScape, Intellect Design etc that were beginning to bring back staff in their offices have now gone back to full WFH.
