The Federation of Indian Export Organisation and several other export promotion bodies have made a joint appeal to chief minister Mamata Banerjee to allow movement of inter-state carriages and operations with 50 per cent workforce.

The government had announced stricter restrictions to control the spread of Covid-19.

The federation wants export-oriented MSME sector, manufacturers, SEZs, process industries and their raw material vendors to operate with at least 50 per cent workforce.

The federation said suspension of work and ban on movement of inter-state trucks had resulted in the imposition of heavy penalties on exporters by foreign buyers for failing to honour the deadline and commitment.

The federation has also requested the state government to allow their offices to function between 10am and 3am every day with 25 per cent workforce to carry out work related to accounts, export/import, communication and transaction with bank, customs and port.

“The government should understand that we need to work with limited staff at least during the banking hours. This is required for the survival of the exporters and their employees and the state’s economy too,” an exporter said.

Ghojadanga Exporters’ Association, an organisation of exporters engaged in export through the Ghojadanga land port in North 24-Parganas, has also made a similar appeal to the chief secretary.

They have urged the government to allow movement of inter and intra-state carriages carrying export items to avoid loss. Export and import activities with Bangladesh through land ports, however, continued since nothing was specifically stated about its operations in the government order.

Exporter Ranabir Dutta said, “Such suspension of movement has led to our failure to meet our commitment to international buyers. We are incurring huge losses every day and at the same time would be charged heavy penalties by our buyers. The state government should consider this sympathetically and allow our vehicles to move.”

Federation’s eastern region chairman Sushil Patwari said: “Exports play a pivotal role in the state's economy. Exports and manufacturing units, who are part of the national and global value chain, have been suffering seriously due to complete suspension of work. We appeal to the government to consider this aspect to save the industries.”