Chennai: The lockdown has drastically hit the economy. Many, especially the service providers, are the worse hit and are staring at a bleak future, wondering how they pull off the grim phase.
While most of them have got their salaries for March, many say they are unsure of April, amid speculations that the lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus might be extended. Security guards, vendors, housemaids and those in the tailoring, beauty and wellness industries are among the worst hit category.
An upper-middle class person living in a gated community at Velacheri said, “We have four security guards and they are not working since the lockdown. But, the association has decided to pay them salaries. We have two domestic helps in my apartment. While we have given them full salaries for this month (March), we have not assured them payment for next month as they haven’t been coming.”
He is of the argument that the underprivileged can somehow manage the phase and it was the middle class who are really suffering.
Another section of people are the migrant labourers. While the government and NGOs are taking care of them by providing food and shelter, they are worried about their families back home as they are not able to send any money.
A builder said, “I have five labourers from north India working for me. We are out of work and I give each of them Rs 1000 a week. This is to retain them here. But I am not sure for how long I can do it.”
While many places of worship have salaried employees, there are also people like priests, staff and helpers who are dependent on contributions from devotees. Some have created online links, passing on bank accounts and enabled G-pay to pool in money to help them. Those in small businesses are still figuring out how to make ends meet.
Dhanasekaran runs a juice stall at Adyar. He also has two employees.”I have sent them back to their native place, and the shop has been closed for more than 15 days. It is really hard for me and I have not paid them salaries.”
In places like Tirupur, textile unit workers’ remunerations are based on the number of pieces they work on. This section of people are losing on their working hours and income.
In Chennai, while the big corporates have paid their employees ahead of the date, most of the start ups and services providers, though delayed by a few days, have also paid their staff who are working from home.
Vinitha, who works for a start-up in OMR said, “We are usually paid on the first of every month. This time we got salary on the fourth. We have been working from home and it is going on in full swing.” Overall, the businesses are sure they would bounce back soon after the lockdown.