Of all the aspects of social misery nothing is more heart-breaking as being out of work. The basic fabric of society can be sustained only when people who are willing to work secure gainful employment and are part of the workforce. Work organises life. It gives sanity, a structure and ensures discipline in one’s life. The ‘Great Depression’, like most periods of severe unemployment, was created by a government which mismanaged the economy rather than by any inherent instability in the general economy of those times. Belonging to the workforce is also good for our health and well-being. It contributes to our security, happiness and helps us to build a robust self-confidence and esteem and rewards us monetarily too.
Today there is a growing awareness among the youth in Goa that they are being side-tracked in their efforts to secure employment be it in the public or in the private sector. 40% of the world’s unemployed are youth. To grow as a person you have to have a job.
JOBLESSNESS: The problem of unemployment has assumed alarming proportions in the State of Goa. The Opportunities of employment in government departments, public sector and local bodies have dried up. A stage of saturation is being experienced in all formal employments. The State is on a retreat in creating employment. Under such conditions, employment in the private sector becomes the only solace for the aspiring educated unemployed hailing from the State. However, it is the experience of those who have observed the pattern of employment in Goa that by and large private industries have not been promoting employment of locals on account of various factors. The issue of unemployment in Goa is not a simple issue but a complex one. There is no ‘magic wand’ to resolve this problem.
As compared to Goan employees, the migrants are presumed to offer cheap labour and are also ready to work for extended hours. Their only purpose for being in the State is for their employment and therefore most of them live and work here without their families. This singular purpose leaves no room for distractions which enables them to concentrate on their work. This is an added advantage for migrant workers over the local job seekers. These workers have no roots in the State. Consequently their propensity for unionisation is not noticeable and understood as remote. Most of the industrial houses in Goa have been holding campus-interviews outside the State despite administrative restrictions through the employment exchange. This is because these directives do not have any statutory cover. Early this month, the Minister for Labour and Employment, Rohan Khaunte announced that the government is evolving a strategy “to protect, promote and preserve the interests of locals in the private sector.” A policy would be formulated shortly for creating employment in the private sector. The meeting was attended by the representatives of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Goa Small Industries Association (GSIA), Travel and Tourism Association Goa (TTAG) and Trade Union representatives. As a proactive initiative of the department a special task force was created chaired by the Minister for Labour and Employment Rohan Khaunte with member secretary, Commissioner, Labour and Employment, Jayant Tari. The Task Force for employment has been tasked with a mandate to formulate an employment policy in the private sector. The challenge for creating employment opportunities for the locals is one of the key tasks.
DATA COLLECTION: There is a pressing need for data collection on certain vital areas of employment in Goa. Interestingly, an exercise was initiated by the department in the year 2017 to know how many Goans and non-Goans are employed by the private sector. This data has not been compiled till date. Data must be completed and made available to the authorities and the committee on a war-footing in order to enable a coherent and cogent employment policy. The government and the industry recognise the fact that significant and adequate numbers of Goan workers are not securing employment in the State. A laudable and much needed objective of course?
And who is a Goan? A Goan means any person born in the State or one who has lived in the State for not less than 15 years and knows to read, write, speak and understand Konkani. The government of Goa and the department of labour have now felt the need to have a policy for the new industries which will be set-up in Goa. It is the endeavour of those at the helm to ensure that at least 60% of those employed should be Goans. This proposal is not wholly acceptable to the employers and other stake holders. Several Industrialists in Goa affirm that the present employment policy should be a realistic and a reasonable one and not just a knee-jerk reaction with a quick fix solution. Government’s failure to create viable employment opportunities has been forcing Goans to give up their Indian citizenship and migrate abroad in search of livelihood.
Employment in government departments and public sector has reached the saturation point where there appears little scope to accommodate the unemployed youth. In the wake of a mounting unemployment scenario it is considered expedient to define the role of private sector in providing gainful employment opportunity to locals who are competent and having aptitude to man the jobs in the industry. The object of the Act is to promote employment of locals in private sector.
(The writer is a social
scientist and practising
criminal lawyer).
