70 per cent of the workforce retained on various sites: L&T

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said they have intensified their efforts to retain their labour force post the outbreak of the second COVID-19 wave

"What has happened after the first wave (of COVID-19) is that much of the labourers went back to their villages and towns. With huge efforts, I can talk about Larsen & Toubro, we brought many of them back," the company's CEO and managing director S N Subrahmanyan said.

The company said it has been able to hold almost 70 per cent of its 2,45,000 contract workers at its various project sites in return for medical care facilities and other support measures during the pandemic.

S N Subrahmanyan said, "we had about 2,45,000 labourers on our rolls. It has come down to about 1,71,000 now. So, there have been some people who have gone back, one could say that. But we have intensified huge campaigns at all our sites, especially the labour camps to tell them that they are safe with L&T."

Many state governments, he said, are also requesting the public to stay where they are because the movement of people also creates infection and therefore, there is a general feeling to keep people where they are. He believes labourers should stay back at their current places, as in the hinterland there is a certain amount of COVID infection and due to lack of medical infrastructure at these places, there are hardships.