Shop staff to get only one holiday

Will employees working in different business concerns in the twin cities continue to enjoy two-day holidays? With merchants and managements of different business establishments reportedly pressuring higher officials for withdrawal of staggered weekly holidays, they just might become a thing of the past.The Labour department has submitted a comprehensive report to the state government for immediate consideration of the staggered holiday Act. Dr HK Nagu, in-charge Labour commissioner told Express the department has submitted a detailed report suggesting to do away with two-day weekly offs for employees. “Most merchants and owners of  business concerns approached higher officials to chnage the Act,’’ he added. The new rule was implemented by Navin Mittal, the former district collector. As part of the Act, the labour department divided the city into five business zones. Staggered holidays were being implemented zone-wise wherein an employee got holiday on Sunday when shops are generally closed and any other day in the week.For instance, on Monday, business establishments were closed on Monday in Begumpet, Secunderabad, Minister road, MG road, SP road, SD road, West Marredpally, Bowenpally and surrounding areas. Areas around Koti, Abids, Nampally, Lakdi-ka-pul, Khairatabad, Erram Manzil, Punjagutta, Ameerpet, Sanathnagar, Somajiguda, Greenlands, Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills will be closed on Tuesday. Wednesday is a holiday for establishments around Tarnaka, Osmania University, Lalapet, Bagh Amberpet, Tilaknagar, Nallakunta, Sitaphalmandi, Padmaraonagar, lower Tank Bund, Musheerabad, Ramnagar and Vidyanagar. Similarly on Thursday shops and businesses are closed in New Nallakunta, Baghlingampally, Chikkadpally, Narayanguda, Himayatnagar, Adarshnagar, Saifabad, Basheerbagh, Hyderguda, King Koti and Barkatpura. Friday is a holiday in areas like Kacheguda, Chaderghat to Dilsukhnagar, Saidabad, Santoshnagar, Chandrayangutta, Barkas, Esamia Bazar, Badi Chowdi, Sultan Bazar, Afzalgunj, Gowliguda, Puranapul, Pathargatti, Charminar, Falaknuma, Begum Bazar, from Abids Junction towards Mozamjahi market, Vijayanagar Colony, Masab Tank, Mehdipatnam, Tolichowki, Shaikpet, Gudimalkapur, Langer Houz, Mallepally, Karwan, Chatrinaka and Shalibanda.With employees taking two-day weekly offs, owners and traders were sometimes forced to open shops on Sundays. As labour officials are strictly implementing the system, the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry has now demanded withdrawal of the system. “All government departments remain closed in Sundays. Why is the labour department concentrating on opening business establishments on that day? asked C Anand Kumar, general secretary, APFCCT.  “It is not practically feasible to implement the new rule in the twin cities. We are demanding the government to look into the labour department’s report,” he added. 

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com