For almost three months, the entertainment industry was completely shut down owing to the COVID-19 lockdown. But now, the Maharashtra Government have given orders to slowly resume operations. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, serials like Kumkum Bhagya, Kundali Bhagya, Tujhse Hai Raabta, Qurbaan Hua, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Punjabi, were to resume shoot from today.
But the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and Cine and Television Artists’ Association (CINTAA) have asked their members to not go back on set unless the Producers’ Association reaches a consensus regarding proper safety measures and clears all their pending dues.
The two associations — FWICE and CINTAA — issued a joint statement as they sent out a press release. In that, they said: “It is highly regretted to note that even after the strict directives issued by the I & B ministry to all the producers to clear the outstanding dues of the actors, workers and technicians pending prior to the announcement of the lockdown by the Government amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Producers have still not cleared the outstanding dues of our members. All the outstanding dues of our members should be cleared prior to the resumption of the shootings.”
Apart from this, the press release stresses on other points like an 8-hour shift per day for the actors, settling of all payments on time, mandatory weekly holidays, providing for life insurance for everyone involved, settling conveyance charges everyday, deploying an ambulance on set, no pay cuts or discounts, among other things.
We hope they resolve these points soon and the shows go back on floors!