Abrupt closure of shops on S.M. Street in Kozhikode lead to labour issues
The Hindu
Several owners shut down outlets citing COVID-induced crisis
The sudden closure of a well-known textile outlet on S.M. Street here has irked trade unions, as its owner has allegedly failed to settle the dues of a few staffers.
It came as a rude shock when employees were informed that the outlet owner had decided to close it down. Subsequently, they staged a sit-in in front of the outlet, demanding that their dues be cleared.
“Such instances have become common on the pretext of COVID-induced crisis. Several managements have shut down outlets to avoid loan sharks or wholesale suppliers whose dues are to be cleared. It is easier for managements to get rid of employees without settling their dues,” said P. Viji, State secretary of Asanghatitha Meghala Thozhilali Union.
Everyone talks about the Airport Metro, but one look at the pillars and completion seems nowhere in sight. Meanwhile, a faster, cheaper, roomier alternative called the Suburban Rail Airport Corridor is finally getting off the drawing board. This dedicated corridor with its specialised coaches will link the airport to vast stretches of Bengaluru, where the metro connection is still years away.