E-Paper
Extend amnesty scheme till March 2021, stop migration of labourers: FICO to Punjab industry body
The industrial body was also asked to waive off the interest completely to facilitate the industry in the period of recession
In view of the coronavirus lockdown’s impact over trade, the Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisation (FICO) have asked the Punjab State Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) Limited to extend its amnesty scheme till March 31, 2021.
The demand was raised by a FICO delegation led by their chairman KK Seth and president Gurmeet Singh Kular during a meeting with PSIEC chairman Gurpreet Gogi.
FICO president Gurmeet Singh Kular said, “PSIEC Limited had announced a liberal one-year amnesty scheme applicable to the allotters of different focal points against the payment of enhanced land cost, providing facility of making payment in two equal instalments with a waiver of compounding and penal interests to the plot holders of PSIEC due on May 31. Considering the current scenario, we have requested the corporation to extend the due date till March 31, 2021. “We have also requested the industrial body to waive off the interest completely to facilitate the industry in this period of recession,” he said.
The FICO leader also said, “Despite waiving off the compounded and penal interests, PSIEC is still charging 15% per annum which would raise the original enhancement of Rs 474 to Rs 1,000. It is totally enviable for the industry that is already going through a period of crunch. It is a humble request that as per the ‘No Enhancement Policy’ of the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, the same should be applicable in Punjab so as to facilitate the industry in the state.”
The industrialists also said that under-construction units or those which could not start their production due to the curfew should also be given the extension till March 31, 2021, without penalty.
‘REPAIR FOCAL POINT ROAD, SEWERAGE’
The delegation also urged PSIEC chairman Gogi to give green signal to the repair and upgrading of Focal Point Road and the sewerage on it.
Another demand raised by the delegation was –permission to the industrialists to utilise 30% of their land area for the construction of staff quarters for labour as well as for commercial purpose so they could construct and maintain a commercial outlet to display and sell the products manufactured in their premises.
‘STOP LABOUR MIGRATION’
Meanwhile, the delegation highlighted the plight of labourers and said the state government should stop their migration to their native states. “Industry is going to face another forced lockdown in the coming days as the government of Punjab is allowing the labour to move out of the state. If this continues, the industry will go in a critical stage and its revival will be very difficult,” the attendees said.
Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings president Upkar Singh Ahuja; president of Focal Point Industrial Association, Phase-8, OP Bassi; Federation of MSME Manufacturers chairman Charanjit Singh Vishwakarma and FICO general secretary Rajeev Jain were also part of the delegation.
