PANJIM: A day after the claim by the North East Association Goa (NEA), alleging sexual exploitation of North-East girls and women employed in one of the spa and massage parlours in Panjim, the spa owner on Friday rubbished the allegations.
Speaking to Herald, the owner said, “This complaint is a blatant extortion attempt by the NEA in collusion with the union. We have the highest respect for the people from the North-East and our company provides work for almost 70 men and women from that region.”
Stating that all the allegations made by the NEA are false, he said the present committee of NEA is misguiding the hardworking workers from the North-East region.
“We have paid all the dues correctly, but a meeting held at the union office in which the union leader openly said that I haven’t paid their dues correctly and even went to the extent of saying that they have many ways to make my life hell and that he will play his cards when the time comes, these are the exact words of the union leader,” he added
He added that the present committee is upset as the spa owners shared a better rapport with the previous committee and that was the main reason they were being targeted.
Speaking of the sexual harassment charge the owner said, “The allegations are baseless. Busy individuals sometimes want therapy from home and getting a foot massage from the poolside during a wedding reception has been done several times now. It is silly of the NEA to call these services illegal. We never tolerate sexual advances or such type of behaviour from clients whether in our premises or outside,” he added.
“The allegations are baseless and just for the sake of argument, if the 11 therapists were molested during services, why did they recall their resignation after two months?” the owner asked.
