For an ITES company - can they lay-off any employees impacted owing to COVID 19 situation?

Dear friends: Hope all are doing well.

Currently many companies are preparing for counter measures to implement to protect the downturn in their business impacted by COVID 19 and subsequent lockdown implemented by the Government.

In order to do the same, I needed your help in understanding the following positions from Epidemic Law /any other labour law perspective:

1. For an ITES company is it liable to pay salaries on time?

2. For an ITES company - can they lay-off any employees impacted owing to COVID 19 situation?

3. By leave policy every employee is allowed to accumulate leaves upto X nmbr days wherein all unused cumulated leaves are encashable on termination. Can we change the leave policy to make it non-cumulative whereby all unused leaves would lapse by end of the year for all employees?

Many thanks for your time and help,

Dear Priya,
Hope You & your are doing well.
1. For an ITES company is it liable to pay salaries on time: Yes, it is mandatory
2. For an ITES company can they lay-off any employees impacted owing to COVID -19 situation?: No, you can not go for lay-off. The Govt has already asked the employer not to resort for lay-off.
3. By leave policy every employee is allowed to accumulate leaves upto X nmbr days wherein all unused accumulated leaves are encashable on termination.: It is too early, just wait till end of lock-down period i.e. April.: You can not force for leave during the lock down period.
The scenario will be cleared at end of this period, If it continues further the lay-off is an inevitable measure for all kind of industries.

Thanks a lot for your detailed reply Prabhat.