PANJIM: Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar declined to absorb the lifeguards as government employees, and asked the striking lifeguards to resume duty within one week else face replacement.
“The striking lifeguards of Drishti should resume duty within seven days else the company will recruit new employees. We had agreed to settle all the demands made by the striking lifeguards, but to absorb them as government servants is not possible. Moreover, it doesn’t fit in any of the government’s rules. They were also thoroughly briefed about the same. However, their persistent demand for being absorbed as government employees is simply not justified and to accept their demand is not in my hands,” Ajgaonkar said in a statement circulated to the media on Monday.
The minister explained that the rules for recruitment of government employees are different and hence, it is difficult to make changes.
“Drishti is a private company in which they have employed Goans as well as lifeguards from other States. Once the rule is altered, it will be applicable to all,” he stated.
Ajgaonkar further said that if the striking lifeguards fail to join duty in time, the company will be forced to make arrangements for new employees and according to the rules, the government will have to accept it.
“Drishti has already started the process of training and recruiting new lifeguards. But we will convince them to take back all those striking lifeguards who have been sacked by the company. But for that I can give them only one week’s time. If they don’t end their strike and resume duty within seven days, then they may lose their jobs permanently, and I may not be able to provide them any help after that,” he said.
