Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant distributed the appointment letters to 1,115 contract workers who were enrolled under Public Works Department’s Labour Supply Society (PWDLSS) on Monday.
The contract workers, who were working under contractor or contract agency, have now been enrolled under PWDLSS at a function organised by Public Works Department (PWD), in the Seminar Hall, Secretariat, Porvorim.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar, Acting Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Principal Chief Engineer PWD Uttam Parsekar and Engineers attached to PWD were present.
The Chief Minister said, “Taking into account the woes of contract workers such as monthly salaries etc, the government agreed to register contract workers under the Public Works Department of Labour Supply Society even during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to help improve public service.”
“While performing duties as a servant of the government, everyone should know that we are working for people and that we should serve the masses in a better way,” Sawant said.
The government eliminated the contract system from March 31, 2020 and enrolled contract workers, who have rendered service to the PWD since past 10-12 years, through a contractor/contractor agency in the Public Works Departments Labour Supply Society.
Upon enrollment, contract employees will be entitled for restricted benefits of leave and medical reimbursement.
1115 contract workers are enrolled under the Public Works Department’s Labour Supply Society (PWDLSS) as skilled, unskilled, semi-skilled workers and drivers with minimum wages as admissible under the present notification as amended from time to time.
Out of 1115, unskilled workers, who enrolled under PWDLSS are 458, semiskilled workers are 378, skilled workers are 268 and skilled (drivers) are 11.
The Chief Minister informed that the decision to enrol contract workers under PWDLSS will save approx Rs 7 crore annually.
He said, “We need to honour the health workers who work tirelessly to save those infected due to COVID-19.”
The Chief Minister said positive corona cases are increasing day by day. To deal with this crisis the Government has taken initiative to set up a COVID care centre wherever possible and if felt necessary, the government can contemplate opening of at least one COVID care centre in every 40 constituencies. “We need to fight against the coronavirus unitedly,” the Chief Minister asserted.
