Team Herald
PANJIM: The trade unions in Goa will support the All India Farmers and Workers Strike on November 26, from 10 am to 1 pm at Azad Maidan, Panjim.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The workers are protesting the unfulfilled promises of the Centre towards workers and farmers, especially after the 13-month agitation.
Addressing a press conference in the city, AITUC General Secretary Christopher Fonseca said, “Our workers will remain present at Azad Maidan tomorrow. As you know, during Covid period, the government brought some legislation against which farmers held protests. Due to the protest, the Central government withdrew three legislations.”
“However, at the same time the government gave seven assurances which included minimum support price which, in spite of the assurances, is yet to be implemented,” he said.
Fonseca flayed the labour laws passed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government which he claimed would encourage the commercial establishments to hire and fire the workers.
“The laws have been framed in such a way that workers can be retrenched at any point of time,” he said.
He said during the protest the trade union bodies will demand withdrawal of criminal cases filed against the farmers.
The union leader expressed apprehension that the ferry service which is currently being in Goa can be privatised, which will badly affect the islanders, who are totally dependent on ferry services.
“Not only this, there is also fear that other departments like Public Works Department (PWD), Education and Health can be privatised. We oppose privatisation of ferry boats,” he said.
He also demanded that the government should find a solution to the problems faced by the workers of Sanjivani Sugar Factory.
Fonseca also criticised the government for imposing ESMA on pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the State.
“The pharma companies have taken away the rights of the workers to protest. Whenever they try to raise their voice police reach within minutes and harass them. Many workers have been transferred while many have been retrenched,” Fonseca said.
