Leading exporters’ body, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), has written to the Maharashtra government asking it to allow private offices to open with 25% of the sanctioned strength during the night curfew and weekend lockdown so as to provide the necessary support to run factories and support the manufacturing sector.

It said export units had strict timelines to execute the orders while seeking inclusion of exports sector in the list of essential services. The federation said that manufacturing units were supported by their offices, which not only manage their inventories but also ensure timeline supply of raw material, filing of tax return, filing of e-way bills for transportation of goods and managing of outward supplies. “If such offices are not allowed to function, it would not be possible to keep manufacturing going,”FIFO said in a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackerey, dated April 5.