Coronavirus pandemic has put the entire planet under lockdown leading to shutdown of operations across industries. The shutdown has left hundreds and thousands of daily wage workers or temporary/contractual workers unemployed in these times. They are the ones who are struggling to make ends meet. In order to help them sustain under lockdown, Sony Pictures has come forward to contribute Rs 100 million to support daily wage workers in the media and entertainment industry.
“In response to the nationwide lockdown undertaken as a measure to contain the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has decided to contribute a fund of Rs. 100 million to support the daily wage workers in the Media & Entertainment industry,” as per their media release.
“With the entire media ecosystem including all television, cinema shows and films production coming to a halt since 20th March, the M&E industry is grappling with mass unemployment. It has especially impacted the sustenance of the daily wage earners from production crew involving a gamut of people like artists, camera men, spot boys, light boys and their dependent families,” it added.
The network is reaching out to the daily wage earners identified by their respective trade associations with free coupons which they and their families can exchange for their daily necessities like food and essential items at select retail stores. SPN is also working with its various commissioned production houses to disburse a month’s salary to each daily wage earner, mentioned in its press release to media.
N.P. Singh, Managing Director and CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), “In light of the global pandemic, we are witnessing large communities across the world coming together to tide over the crisis. These unprecedented times have had a cascading impact on the media and entertainment industry, which employs a huge number of daily wage workers. As a conscientious conglomerate, it is our responsibility to direct efforts towards ensuring aid reaches our primary beneficiaries who have contributed to the success of the network.”
“Besides this initiative, we are also providing coupons to the migrant workers from this daily wage workforce, which they can trade off at certain retail outlets for groceries and essential supplies. We will leverage every opportunity to help our country at large to get through trying times like these,” Singh added.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, Japan. SPN reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.
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