PANJIM: Even as thousands of workers attached to various trade unions, including the Goa Government Employees’ Association, will go on a day-long Bharat Bandh on Friday seeking higher wages and to protest against the Centre’s “unilateral” labour reforms, the bandh will have no impact on the public transport system as KTCL and private bus associations have not extended their support.
As a part of nationwide strike call given by the Central trade unions, in Goa too, employees engaged with banks, financial institutions, government offices, industries, will remain off duty.
“Workers attached with All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Government Employees Association, Insurance, Banks, Industries, INTUC, etc have been served strike notice,” labour union leader Adv Suhaas Naik said.
“We have extended full support to the nationwide strike, as not only the Centre but Goa government has also adopted anti-labour laws and reforms,” he stated.
The workers will hold a mass rally from KTCL Panjim bus stand and will conclude at Azad Maidan with a public meeting. “We hope to see a huge number of people supporting the bandh. We also appeal to the common man to join our protest,” Naik said.
Despite the Centre announcing 45 percent hike in daily wage, the Central Trade Unions refused to call off their strike stating that the protest is against the “anti-worker and anti-people policies” of the government and in view of its “utterly unresponsive and undemocratic attitude.”
