Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) of 1968 is a law with special reference to this lockdown period
Imposition of ESMA:
“The Covid-19 outbreak has breathed life into antiquated laws,” says The Economic Times of 21 March 2020. In April 2020, the Uttar Pradesh Government decided to put on hold the increase of the Dearness Allowance (DA) for its sixteen lakh employees which was due from January 1, 2020. The government decided not to pay DA instalments which will be due from July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021. Further, it imposed ‘The Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1968’ (ESMA) and prohibited strikes in workplace for the next six months. Similarly, the Andhra Pradesh Government imposed ESMA on health and medical services for a period of six months from April 2020. The Madhya Pradesh Government invoked it on 3 April 2020 across the state as a measure to prevent any strike by essential services delivery system, including the medical and health services. Therefore, it is high time we learnt the provisions of ESMA, especially during this pandemic period.
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Fr Ravi Sagar SJ
