Covid – 19: Impact on the corporate sector with special emphasis on ‘force majeure’

With the coronavirus having penetrated across the globe, a declaration was made by the World Health Organization on the 11^th March 2020 specifying Covid -19 as a global pandemic as it has had a rigorous impact on the daily lifestyle of the people and the business operations taking place in the corporate environment also seem to have suffered a series of repercussions.

According to the principles under the purview of the contract law, a party can legally negate the performance of a contract if the execution or performance of the contract becomes impossible owing to the unforeseeable events which are beyond the party’s control. These unforeseeable events or cases which cannot be anticipated by any ordinary human are described as force majeure events or even can be classified as ‘Acts of God.’ These clauses differ significantly and are dependent upon what category of events are actually covered at the time of entering into a contractual agreement. There are some clauses which include within its scope a fixed list of force majeure events attempting to taper down the application of the clause and eventually excusing the discharge or performance of any contract. Whereas on the other hand, there are some force majeure clauses which are aimed towards widening the applicability with regard to any unpredictable happenings or episodes which are not under the party’s control by inserting a provision at the end of the force majeure clause which can be read as “all other acts beyond the parties reasonable control.”

Some examples of the force majeure events can be any kind of natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, epidemics, quarantine, war and even union activities like strikes and slow- downs.

The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance on 19^th February 2020 announced that this global phenomenon would be considered as a force majeure event and so the force majeure clauses (FMC) can be put into legal effect or invoked under the Manual for Procurement of Goods, 2017 (the necessary rules and guidelines for the purpose of procuring goods and services by government organization). So the government entities to whom the above mentioned manual applies will have a right to render a contract either terminated or suspended, only if the contract within its remit contains a provision relating to the suspension of a contract due to the occurrence of a force majeure event.

Prior to terminating any kind of contract owing to a force majeure event, a few key factors have to be taken into account as follows:

1. A proper examination will have to be mandatorily done of the definition of the force majeure event within the scope of the contract.
2. The clause relating to force majeure would have be scrutinized in order to determine if the party legally has the authority to terminate the contract or only suspend it for a temporary span in the event of a force majeure event or case.
3. If there is an absence of a contractual right in the hands of a party to render a contract terminated by taking advantage of the force majeure event, the party can endeavour to invoke the doctrine of frustration, if there are a set of circumstances which make it impossible for the party to fulfill its commitments under the contract.

The Covid -19 disaster has taken a toll on the masses residing worldwide. Steps and precautionary measures are being taken all over the world with the only motto of mitigating the scale of disruption. Professionals employed specifically in the pharmaceutical sector are constantly taking efforts for making the situation calm and also to curb any further loss of lives. A large scale of events are being cancelled accompanied with the entire economy going through a severe downfall as there is an elevation in the unemployment rate in various arenas.

By a Notification dated 20^th March 2020’ ,the Municipal Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai in exercise of the powers conferred upon him, has ordered under Rule 10 of the Regulations for the Prevention and Containment of Covid-19 for the implementation of the following measures in Mumbai city.

Authorization of the complete shutdown of all the corporates and the establishments. But however, an exemption has been provided to the following establishments providing paramount services which include:

• Providing drinking water
• Providing sewerage services
• Providing banking services and RBI
• Providing rail and transportation services
• Providing food, vegetable and groceries.
• Providing telephone and internet services
• Hospitals, Medical centres, Medical stores
• Electricity, Petroleum, Oil , Energy
• Media
• Port
• IT Services provided to any of the essential services
• Production /Manufacturing processes which require continuity of process may continue to function at 50% staff strength.

2.Focusing on the doubt as to whether work from home can be set-off with the annual leave of the employees, it can be maintained that work from home cannot be set off against the annual leaves granted to the employees officially by their respective companies. The alternative offered to work from home cannot be construed as leave.

3.The salaries of the employees too cannot be deducted on the grounds of occurrence of this catastrophe and because of its negative impact on the business of a company, and it has to be paid in consonance with the terms of employment of the employee.

4.There is no bar on laying off employees because of the companies facing economic adversities. Although employees can be laid off on various grounds subject to the employers complying with all the pre-conditions which are stated in the Industrial Disputes Act 1947, along with those in relation to notice period, payment and the terms of employment of the employees.

“This battle against the evil of Covid-19 can be combated by all the citizens harmoniously across the globe only with an attitude of positivity coupled with the high spirit of everyone along with remaining aware and updated with the day to day happenings and at the same time creating awareness in their surroundings accompanied with taking initiatives and efforts voluntarily for diminishing the severe consequences of this mishap.”

NOTE : The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and is not intended to be a legal opinion. Expert advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.