New Delhi, April 14: In order to address the shortage of labourers once industries reopen after the coronavirus lockdown ends, the central government is planning to bring an ordinance that will allow states to increase work hours. According to a report by Economic Times, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will table the ordinance that will empower state governments to increase the work hours of employees to 12 hours per day from eight hours. Coronavirus Tracker Live News Updates on April 14.

The Labour ministry will bring the ordinance to the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC), which empowers "states or appropriate authorities" to notify work hours. According to the report, a bill was tabled in this regard in Parliament last year, which was then sent to the standing committee. The standing committee had sent back the bill but it could not be taken up as the budget session was curtailed due to the coronavirus outbreak. '7 Baaton Mein Saath': From Taking Care of Elders to Asking Businesses Not to Lay People Off, PM Narendra Modi Appeals to People to Follow These 7 Points as He Announces Extension of Lockdown Till May 3.

Employers' associations, the report said, have requested the government to raise shift timing as many labourers have gone back to their native places due to the coronavirus crisis and may not join immediately once the lockdown is over. The 21-day nationwide lockdown was supposed to end today but Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to extend the shutdown till May 3. He also hinted at easing of lockdown restrictions in places where there is no hotspot after April 20.

"There will be a review of every town, police station, every district and every state by April 20 to see how lockdown rules are being followed there and how much that area has protected itself from the infection," he said. "Till 20th April, all districts, localities, states will be closely monitored, as to how strictly they are implementing norms. States which will not let hotspots increase, they could be allowed to let some important activities resume, but with certain conditions," he added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 14, 2020 05:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).