Team Herald
PANJIM: Striking Drishti lifeguards have accused the recruiting agency of hiring underage boys as lifeguards, an allegation that has been denied by Drishti Special Response Services Pvt Ltd.
The labour union – All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Goa – claims to have photographs of minor children being asked to do lifeguard duty. “The company is not only risking the lives of tourists but also juveniles. How can the company resort to this? Employing minors in a punishable offence,” AITUC convener Suhas Naik alleged.
Reacting to this, Drishti CEO Manoj Agiwal said, “I don’t know from where they come across such allegations. We never employed any minor.”
The striking lifeguards claim they have taken up the matter with the State government for appropriate action. Hundreds of lifeguards, led by the labour union and supported by a number of tourism stakeholders and other unions, are on an indefinite strike since December 29, 2015 demanding reinstatement of 17 sacked employees, a raise in their salary to Rs 21,000 per month and regularising of their services.
The company expects that the lifeguards to resume work and has arranged a fresh lot of trained lifeguards to ensure the safety and security on the beaches. The lifeguards, on Monday carried out a rally from Paryatan Bhavan to Panjim Church.
