Are contract labourers kept in inhuman conditions in Goa, leading to outbreak of diseases?

The deaths of fish workers highlights the failure of boat owners or labour contractors to look after migrant labourers and failure of government authorities to carry out periodic checks.

Contractors at Cutbona Jetty, Salcete GoaHerald pic

Published on:

11 Sep 2024, 1:28 pm

PANJIM: Five deaths have been reported and 163 have been diagnosed for dengue and other diseases at the Cutbona jetty due to negligence and lack of sanitation. On Wednesday CM Pramod Sawant inspected the jetty and advised all the department officials to take necessary action to improve the working condition of workers. In this edition of Street Voices, Herald TV spoke to people about whether contract labourers are kept in inhuman conditions in Goa leading to outbreak of diseases.

Hygienic living conditions are not provided to workers. The Health Department does not check workers’ living quarters, neither does the Labour Department. Other related department or even the local panchayat does not check. Some relieve themselves in the open properties or water bodies. Labour contractors treat labour as garbage. Labourers are exploited in many ways. They don’t get salaries in time. They are forced to work for upto 14 hours and even at night. There should be a migrant labour board.

Christopher Fonseca, General Secretary AITUC

There are special provisions for migrant labour. There should be a record maintained of all migrant labour. Provisions should be made for their accommodation and health. There is need for a medical test when they come. This has to be done by the contractor who hires them. This does not happen. About 90% of fishing and shack labour are migrants. There should be adequate spending on health to provide toilets for labour. This does not happen, hence the disease and deaths occur. The contractors and government is responsible for this.

Prasanna Utagi, State President, AITUC

There is no doubt that labourers are kept in inhuman conditions. The authorities themselves are responsible for this. Secondly, labour laws are not being implemented. No one is bothered, there are no proper checks and balances on this, so this kind of things are bound to happen. Both the government and the contractors have to look after the workers, with time bound checks from the government.

Anthony D’Silva, Social Activist

I agree, the migrant labourers are kept in inhuman conditions. Goa is in need of migrant labour, at the same time undue advantage is taken of them. Even 10 of them stay in one room. There is not sanitation and toilet facilities for them. Contractors provide them rooms and then ask them to fend for themselves. And they are kept in inhuman conditions. I have seen this with my own eyes. Due to this there is spread of diseases. Contractors are mainly interested in making money and don’t bother to look after migrant families.

Mariano Ferrao, Social Activist