To,

Shri D. Palanisamy
The General Manager
HRMD-IRD
Indian Overseas Bank
63 Anna Salai
Chennai - 600002

Dear Sir
SUB: COVID 19 VIRUS INITIATIVES EXPECTED FORM THE BANK -
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
The world health organisation has declared The coronavirus is officially
a pandemic . The coronavirus is extremely dangerous, that the danger is
currently being underplayed by the world medical community to minimize
panic as we prepare for the worst. But Public health experts India and
elsewhere in globe have expressed concern over the infections spreading at a
fast pace. “What makes pandemics particularly dangerous is that the population
generally does not have immunity to the disease and this can cause outbreaks
beyond the traditional winter flu season. The Union health ministry has said that
all cases detected so far either have a travel history to Covid-19 hit regions or
were relatives and friends who came in contact with the patient. The number of
cases globally has ballooned to more than169, 610as on date across the world
with 6,518 deaths in more than 142 countries, since the outbreak in Wuhan,
China, in December. This has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO)
to declare it a pandemic. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Concerns have mounted over whether currency might play a role in spreading

the Cash is notoriously covered in germs; studies suggest that paper bills
can contain bacteria and viruses, plus lead to the spread of disease.
Despite reports that the World Health Organization was pushing people to use
contactless payments, a spokesperson for the WHO tells CNBC Make It it has
not issued any warnings or statements about the use of cash. Instead, it
reiterated that you should wash your hands, including after handling money,
especially if you’re eating or touching food.

If your job requires that you handle money (or any other potentially
contaminated surface), it’s important to be diligent about washing your hands
and not touching your face, Knight says. If you want to wear disposable gloves,
it’s still a good idea to change them and wash your hand between touching
money and preparing food, according to the New York Department of Health.

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Otherwise you’re just spreading germs with your gloves instead of your hands.
Hence bank employee is in high risk zone of contacting this virus for reasons
 They handle cash of the public and cheques .
 They come onto close contact with customers who would have history of
coming from virus detected countries or may be carrier of the virus in
dormant or replication stage..
 The maximum risk zone is member from the currency chest
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases in India have
reached 114, with Maharashtra, Karnataka each confirming one fresh case and
Kerala reporting two new cases after the latest official update of 110 by the
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on late night of 15 March. So far,
India has recorded two corona virus deaths one in Karnataka and the other in
Delhi. Maharashtra tops the list with 33 confirmed positive cases. Kerala, which
is the second top state in the list, has 21 positive active cases. FM Nirmala
Sitharaman said her government would soon come out with steps to help
industry limit coronavirus impact. After today's two new cases, Health minister
Harsh Vardhan also reiterated Modi govt's commitment to countering the
emerging threat. Among the slew of measures announced by them includes
closing down malls, schools, colleges, stopping crowded gatherings etc. Which
is regularly reported in the media with fresh additions each day? Many IT
companies and private banks have asked staff ot work from home but public
sector banks being essential service cannot be closed down. Nor it has
infrastructure to ask staff to work from home. However three are reports
that a currency chest of State Bank Of India is closed down.

Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus suggested by WHO

is reproduced as under
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on
the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority.
COVID-19 is still affecting mostly people in China with some outbreaks in
other countries. Most people who become infected experience mild illness and
recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and
protect others by doing the following:
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or
wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand
rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is
coughing or sneezing.

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Note :not possible for PSB bank employees because of commitments to
customer service
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from
their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can
breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing
has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated,
hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus
can enter your body and can make you sick.
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene.
This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when
you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect
the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty
breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of
your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information
on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care
provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect
you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Stay informed and follows advice given by your healthcare provider
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice
given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health
authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-
19.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information
on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise
on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
In his regard we thank the bank for issuing detailed circular
7(f)160/2019/20dt 10-3-2020 covid 19 for employees wellbeing and
protection as a model employer .

We draw your attention to the following rules in vogue to cover such

expediencies.
QUARANTINE LEAVE
As per the leave policies as per acts in vogue in India this leave is usually
granted to a concerned employee by reason of presence of an infectious disease
in the family or household of the employee, if such disease is considered to be

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hazardous to the health of other people. Maximum 30 days of quarantine leave
can be availed by the employees covered under this Act
Reference: paycheck.in/labour-law-India/leave-and-holidays/leave-policy

Accordingly As per industrial DISPUTES BETWEEN CERTAIN BANKING

COMPANIES AND THEIR WORKMEN 19th October, 1966 INDIAN
BANKS' ASSOCIATION under cl (viii) 13.41.   there is a provision for
QUARANTINE LEAVE
“In case an employee is absent from duty on account of quarantine, the bank
may, at the request of the employee, treat such absence up to a maximum of
three months as privilege or sick leave if such leave is otherwise permissible.”
 In this context w ebring to your notice under mentioned interesting fact.
During the period of intense plague outbreak from August 1917 to January
1918, the workers of the textile mills in Ahmedabad were given
'plague bonuses' (some of which were as much as 80 percent of the workers'
wage) in an attempt to dissuade the workers from fleeing during an outbreak of
a plague.
 
See for more details https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/ahmedabad-
textile-laborers-win-strike-economic-justice-1918

Having regard to the above we demand the following emergent steps to taken
by the bank in a War footing to protect the health of staff as preventive
measures.
1. Grant quarantine leave to employees who request for the same under the
umbrage his /her locality /vicinities affected by corona virus and there’s
likelihood of spreading after confirming the news from verifiable
sources /Gov. authorities
2. Grant leave on full pay for those infected by virus and are being
quarantined.
3. Reimburse cost of sanitizers to staff and/ or make arrangements to
provide required sanitizers in staff desks.
4. Reimburse the cost of daily disposable masks.
5. Restore reimbursement of conveyance allowance in view of the fact
that Govt. has advised people to avoid crowded localities like bus stop
,railway station, airports etc. so that they make their own alternate
arrangements ot travel to work place
6. Explore the possibilities of plague bonus like narrated above and grant
COVID19 - bonus to manage the additional costs incurred by staff in
coming to office and for taking necessary precautions at work place and
other places as extant government instructions

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 7. Put up notice of Do’s and Don’t’s in each branch to customers /public as
preventive measures against spread of Covid9 as per the dictions given by
the government.

Awing your favourable response which go viral in speeding good intentions of

the bank

“Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best
customers." - Stephen R. Covey
HEALTHY EMPLOYEES MAKES THE BANK HEALTHY

DATE : 14-3-2020
Yours faithfully

Bharath Jadhav Dilip Bhosale Arun Kotkar

President Working President General Secretary