Renault-Nissan Plant Workmen Argue Employer Can't Avail Lockdown Exemption Without Maintaining Covid Protocol: Madras High Court Orders Inspection

"The employer cannot avail of the exemption to the lockdown without complying with the attendant conditions of maintaining Covid protocol, particularly social distancing," the workmen argued before a Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy.

The workmen had approached the High Court challenging a GO which dubbed the automobile industry as 'continuous process industry' to grant exemption from the two week-lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

According to them, the distancing norms cannot be maintained in the production procedure adopted by this employer, particularly in the assembly line

They suggested that if there is a gap between two cars in the assembly line, social distancing norms may be maintained by allowing three or four workmen to work on the vehicle at a time, instead of six or eight of them working on one vehicle at the same time.

The employer on the other hand maintained that all precautionary steps have been taken and it is open to any surprise or other inspection by an appropriate government official to ascertain whether Covid protocol is maintained at the factory.

Accordingly, the Bench has requested the State Government to arrange for a senior official from the Directorate of Industrial Safety to visit the Sriperumbudur factory of Renault-Nissan.

"It is hoped that all safety norms are in place and there is no compromise on such account to keep up the production at the factory. The distancing norms have to be maintained without exception," the Bench while urging the parties to amicably settle the dispute.

The matter is now listed for hearing on June 4.

Case Title: Workmen of Renault- Nissan v. State of Tami Nadu & Anr.

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