Guidelines issued by Home Ministry for resumption of the industrial units

Circular No.ES/58/2020-21 April 16, 2020

To : Members of the Council

Sub: Guidelines issued by Home Ministry for resumption of the industrial units

Dear Member,

We would like to inform you that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has issued a new notification dated 15.4.2020 permitting certain selected additional activities to be allowed with effect from 20th April 2020 by following the guidelines issued and by adopting the standard operating procedure attached to the notification in Annexure. It is relevant to note that the consolidated revised guidelines will not apply to containment zone as on today or as may be revised by the respective State Governments / Union Territories, based on the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Further, the hotspots areas will be determined based on the guidelines of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in connection with COVID-19 outbreak and clusters including the possible areas of spreading.

Under these circumstances, the highlights of the notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs relevant to manufacturing sector (including textiles) are as follows:-

All goods traffic is allowed including railway, air and sea. In the case of allowing truck and other goods carrier vehicles two drivers and one helper to be permitted;

Courier service is permitted;

Service providers like electrician, plumber, carpenter, motor mechanic are allowed;

Industrial operation in the rural areas is permitted;

Industrial units in the SEZ, EoUs, Industrial Estates and Industrial Townships are permitted to operate. They can make arrangements for the stay of the workers by following the safety and standard operating procedure prescribed as Annexure-II of the notification, workers may be brought through transportation facilities for the operation;

Production units requiring continuous process and the supply chain;

Manufacture of IT hardware are allowed;

IT industries, IT enable industries are permitted to operate with 50% employees.

Though the Central Government has given the broad guidelines with certain restrictions, now it is for the respective State Governments to declare the containment zones and also define the continuous process by their notification. Only based on the State Government notification and clearances, the activities in the industries will be crystallized.

Members may make a note of the above.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,