VASCO: About 34 workers working at the Alto Dabolim based Gate Gourmet Goa Unit (a flight catering and provisioning solutions for airport lounges), on Monday kick started an indefinite protest after the company management closed down its Dabolim unit operations since Sunday citing loss in business.
The aggrieved workers alleged the company management which made huge profits by providing catering supplies to domestic, international and Charters flight at Dabolim international airport suddenly locked the main gate displaying a notice saying tehy were closing down operations, leaving them(workers) shocked, disappointed and without a job. They alleged the company management failed to settle workers and announced a sudden closer which was in violation of recent directives issued by the Labour Commissioner.
“Many of us have been working here tirelessly for over two decades however the sudden decision of the management to lock out the company has left us in deep shock. Today we were forced to stage a protest outside the main gate and similar protest will continue every day until the company come out with a proper settlement scheme for the workers” said Rajendra Pandey.
Another worker alleged “Many of us have not received salaries or have a benefit of a provident fund and other allowances which a company is supposed to give to the workers. A meeting was held with the labour commissioner last week to settle our payment issues wherein the representatives of the company promised to settle the problems of the workers. Labour commissioner had adjourned the meeting for the first week of June, with instruction to the company to allow us to work, but they have gone ahead and locked us out” said Mario Fernandes.
The workers have also sought intervention of the state government to come to their rescue and resolve their issues on a war footing as their livelihood is at stake. They said that many of them would not be able to get alternate employment considering the age limit and hence some solution by the government could only help them in their survival.
