Page 27 - Plastics News April 2020

'Plastic Processors' face labour shortage, logistics woes amid lockdown

A number of packaging and plastic processor firms have so production of ancillary goods like chemicals, blister
reduced or shut down operations, in line with the packaging material, caps, bottles and cartons for
nationwide lockdown meant to contain the spread of the medicine production is ongoing. The problem is of
deadly novel coronavirus in the country transporting these goods,” he added.
Labour shortage and logistics problems has affected As of April 16, India has a total of 12,380 confirmed cases
overall production of India's plastic processors during the of coronavirus, with 1489 being recovered and 414 cases
country's 21-day lockdown, although the government's of death. The pandemic is believed to have started in
decision to allow unhindered transport of all goods may China's central Wuhan city and has since spread to more
have eased some pressure on the industry. A number of than 200 countries/ territories/ areas, according to data
packaging and plastic processor firms have reduced or from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Many
shut down operations, in line with the 25 March transporters in India have refused to ply even essential
nationwide lockdown meant to contain the spread of the goods as their drivers were being manhandled by police
deadly novel coronavirus in the country. “While most of officials along the route, the source at the packaging
our members have continued production during this firm said.
shutdown, labour shortage could slow down
operations,” Deepak Lawale, secretary general of the “There has been an issue of certain goods producers not
Organization of Plastic Processors of India (OPPI). OPPI receiving plastic films for packaging and lot of other such
members account for nearly 45% of the polymer complaints. But that was more a transportation
problem,” Lawale of OPPI said.
processing done in India.
“Transporters who have been unwilling to send their
vehicles and drivers out as the police were stopping
them, can now use the latest government notification to
ensure that movement of goods continues smoothly,” he
added.
For unorganised workers across many states, the
situation isn't getting any better. In fact, contractors and
employers in states with large migrant worker
population, the worries are bigger. India's unorganised
workers make up 82.7 per cent or 39.14 crores of the
total 47.41 crore estimated employed persons,
according to last NSSO Employment and Unemployment
Survey, 2011-12. The contribution of the unorganised or
informal sector to the economy, according to a National
Semi- and unskilled labourers who form the backbone of Statistical Commission report of 2012, varies between 48
India's unorganized labour sector are required in various
per cent and 56.4 per cent.
operations through the production chain, including
transportation. Since India announced its nationwide In Maharashtra, two of the state's and India's most
lockdown on 25 March, migrant labourers have been industrialised cities, Mumbai and Pune, were witness to
returning to their villages. “The labourers have left for an exodus of thousands of workers, including
their homes only recently. Even if they reach their autorickshaw and taxi drivers, to their homes in Uttar
villages, we cannot expect them to return quickly,” Pradesh and Bihar.
Lawale said, adding that though the lockdown that is
supposed to end on 14 April, bringing production and Labour department officials in Maharashtra said the
transportation back to optimum levels may take time. lockdown and closure of private establishments
There could be a short-term shortage of packaging impacted the daily wagers, especially in the
materials required for medicines and ointments like construction sector, adversely but nobody talks about
plastics and tubes, said a source at a Mumbai-based the Plastics Industry that contributes to the GDP of the
packaging firm, which provides blister packaging country as well.
material for medicines. “Medicines are essential goods

APRIL 2020 24 Plastics News