SANGUEM: Locals from Sanguem who were employed at a multi-national soft drink manufacturing company on contract basis have complained to their authorities of being not provided with work since day one of the lockdown.
The workers informed that the contractor under whom they were working for the company had asked them not to report for work on March 22 and since then they are rendered jobless without any pay.
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The workers informed that while the government had issued instructions to all the business establishments not to retrench the work force during the COVID-19 pandemic, the labour contractor at the instance of the company officials seems to have almost terminated their services as they are given unfavourable reply of job employment whenever they meet the contractor.
The agitated workers numbering around 130 and all from Sanguem Taluka informed that they have been working at the factory since last year without any break. However, with the sudden withdrawal of their services by the contractor, the workers are left in a piquant situation and are worried of their future as neither the company nor the contractor is giving them a possible date of rejoining the work.
The workers claim that the contractor itself complains of his contract with the company having been expired and that the company is not ready to renew his contract given the pandemic situation. The workers also bitterly complain of the contractor having not paid to them their wages since March 22 making the workers face untold hardship.
The agitated workers met Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar at his residence on Monday and brought to fore of the problems faced by them on account of their termination of services by the company.
Kavlekar after discussing the issue with the affected workers assured to take up the matter with the concerned authorities and find a solution by Wednesday.
Earlier, the workers had highlighted their plight to the Labour Inspector and other government authorities but to no avail.
The workers claim that the company has however kept intact the services of non Goans thereby depriving the jobs to the locals.
