Impelled by a Kerala High Court order, the State government somewhat belatedly late Monday cracked the whip on unauthorised absence by employees during the 48-hour national strike by Congress and Left trade unions against the Centre's contentious bid to revamp labour laws.
Nearly 24 hours into the crippling lockdown that commenced at midnight on Sunday, Chief Secretary V.P. Joy threatened disciplinary action against government servants who abstained from work without a valid reason.
He said the government would treat unexplained absence from work as dies non. State employees would lose their salary on the days they strike work.
The High Court had declared the work boycott by government staff illegal and ordered an arguably hesitant administration to ensure that State employees attended office. It also directed the government to guarantee public transportation and vehicular traffic.
Mr. Joy ordered District Collectors and KSRTC management to immediately restore vehicular traffic and public transportation.
Law enforcers should protect non-striking employees and prosecute those who indulged in violence or destruction of public property. They should ensure fuel outlets remained open.
Meanwhile, service organisations dug in their heels on the position that the High Court order would not deter them from boycotting work. Various trader organisations said they would open for business on Tuesday.
The two-day strike that commenced at midnight on Sunday also exposed the strident disagreement in Kerala society over the “self-defeating” nature of such “ruinous” industrial action when the State struggled to emerge out of the shadow of economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Videos and pictures of “normal life” in Bengaluru and Mumbai offered a contrasting political commentary on the bandh-like situation in Kerala.
Footage of trade unionists challenging motorists, forcing the closure of petrol pumps, disrupting cooking gas supply, and deterring employees from attending work swamped news television and social media.
The shutdown disrupted essential services, including transportation and banking. It upended the timetable of academic year-end examinations and brought transportation, tourism, agriculture, and banking sectors to a halt.
The widespread closure of hotels caused food ordering and delivery platforms to remain offline. The ubiquitous motorcycle riders who ferried food to homes from hotels temporarily receded from public view.
Taxis, autorickshaws, and State and private-owned transport buses remained off the road. Shops stayed shuttered, and markets remained deserted.
