Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, May 5: Hotel industry, which is one of the prominent sector, which provides employment to scores of people, is hit hard due to the lockdown announced because of increasing cases of Covid in the second lockdown.

People who are not fortunate to get higher education and even those with minor physical disabilities get employment in the hotel industry. They get free food and lodging in the hotel itself. Cleaning personnel get around Rs 400 to Rs 500 per day. Most of the cleaning personnel are women in hotels. People from outstation districts are employed in hotels. Only those hotels, which supply parcel service have kept limited number of personnel for work and rest are asked to go home or their native places.

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There are around 2,500 hotels in the district, including multi-cuisine family restaurants, small canteens, mobile canteens, hotels serving fish meals and fast food centers. Only parcel service is allowed during the Janata Curfew. Only 30% of the hotels are giving parcel service. Rest of the hotels have downed their shutters as they are unable to maintain the cost of overheads due to only parcel service.

Some of the hotel owners are providing half salary to the employees and also some money for household expenses. But the employees are also saying that from where will the hotel owners pay them if they do not have business.