Hyderabad, April 07: Merchants have strongly opposed the government’s ‘staggered holidays’ system for shops which has replaced the practise of Sunday holiday.
“It is a problem to open the shops on Sundays when banks, government offices and transport companies are closed on that day,” president of Twin Cities Traders Welfare Federation, Kabalvani Kesav Rao said, at an interactive meet between the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FAPCCI) and traders here, on Wednesday.
For jewellers working on Sundays, they cannot take out their stocks on Sundays from the bank lockers, as the banks are closed. Also, a number of women employees have resigned because of the staggered holidays system, as they find it difficult to work on Sundays when the rest of the family members are at home, he added.
Varal Reddy, joint commissioner of Labour Department (Enforcement) said any further decision would be taken after considering the opinions of workers and consumers, as well. He expressed that he personally supported the Sunday holiday practise, but the government has to take a decision in this regard.
Natarajan Gulzar, IAS, (Hyderabad district collector and magistrate), Madan Mohan, additional district collector and magistrate, Hyderabad, Dr HK Nagu, IAS, (commissioner of Labour and Employment Training and Factories), Balakrishna, assistant police commissioner, Traffic Zone, FAPCCI president Shekhar Agarwal, Alim Bhasha, additional commissioner, GHMC,
D Laximinarayana, member of Labour Welfare Board, AP were present.
–Agencies