TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Hotel Employees Federation of India, Goa State Unit, staged a dharna in Panjim demanding levy of 20 per cent Service Charge by hotels and Goa government’s intervention in the matter to ensure that the hotel industry implements the same at the earliest.
The HEFOI (Goa State Unit) had taken up this matter in December 2013 and had sought the assistance of Calangute MLA Michael Lobo also an hotelier in North Goa. They submitted a memorandum to Lobo and urged him to pursue the same with the Goa government.
The 20 per cent service charge is in force in Sri Lanka, Nepal and other international destinations, which goes towards employees’ welfare.
Lobo, who met the delegation of around 100 hotel employees from across the State, assured that the government will take up the matter. “The chief minister has told me that he will take up the cause of the hotel employees after the Assembly session,” Lobo disclosed.
He said that the government may consider amendment to the Tourist Trade Act which will make the levy of 20 per service charge mandatory by hotels.
