No coercive action against pvt companies who failed to pay wages during lockdown period: SC

The apex court said the states must facilitate negotiations between the employers and employees over the payment of wages and submit a report in the concerned labour commissioners, said an NDTV report.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has given the Centre four more weeks to reply on the legality of its March 29 notification that had ordered mandatory payment of full wages during the lockdown period.

The notice was issued by the Union Home Ministry ordering all the private companies to pay the salaries without any deductions while their establishments were under closure during the lockdown period.

"It cannot be disputed that the industry and labourers need each other. Efforts should be made to sort out disputes regarding payment of wages for 50 days," a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MR Shah said while passing the orders, the NDTV report said.

While issuing the order today, the Supreme court said the workers who are willing to work should be allowed to continue despite the dispute on wages.

The report said the Supreme Court has posted 18 petitions filed against the March 29 notification.

The petitioners have blamed the government of issuing the order "without due care and deliberation on the financial implications for the employers".