Workforce order has Baddi pharma units in limbo

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 26

Manufacturers of sanitisers and essential medicines are facing problems in operating their units in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) area following the new directions issued by the DM.

Unit managements were directed to keep their workforce within their premises as per directions issued by the District Magistrate last evening.

Directive not feasible

It is not possible to provide space for 100 workers within a unit even if half the workforce is engaged. Such restrictions can’t allow a unit to undertake manufacturing — Surinder Kumar, a company official

The unit managements were also strictly directed to observe all santisation protocols for their premises as well as the employees and in case any Covid-19 patient was found positive, the unit would face a lockdown and the staff was to be placed under quarantine.

These directions were a major jolt to the pharma manufacturers as they have limited space to house all workers. “It is not possible to provide space for 100 workers within a unit even if half the workforce is engaged. Being a technical process industry, all sections have to operate simultaneously and such restrictions can’t allow a unit to undertake manufacturing”, informed Surinder Kumar, a pharma company official at Baddi.

Investors pointed out that contrary to these directions, secretary, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has clearly stated in its latest directions that the units engaged in manufacturing essential commodities like medicines, sanitisers, masks, etc., and their ancillary support services should be exempt from the mobility restrictions to ensure continuous availability of medicines.

With several pharma manufacturers approaching the central authorities to lodge their protest against these directions, the district administration today interacted with the industry representatives through a video conferencing at Baddi to seek their views.

“The administration has assured to lift mobility restrictions and permit pharma units to transport their staff in their buses where not more than 70 per cent seats would be occupied”, informed Ajay Kumar, a senior HR executive of a key pharma firm in Baddi.

He added that the technical staff was staying in private hotels in the BBN area and no workforce was allowed to commute from the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana in view of the rising Covid-19 scare.

A lone mask manufacturer in Baddi had offered to close his unit following mobility restrictions.

“More than 100 pharma companies have recently sought permission to manufacture sanitisers while total 155 units have this approval till now.” informed Deputy Drugs Controller, Manish Kapoor.

The Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association has been directed to make a list of operational units and quantum of workforce engaged to facilitate the police in manning their movement. All managements have also been directed to ensure uniform work shifts so that there was chaos on the roads, said Kapoor.