PANJIM: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) general secretary Christopher Fonseca said that the two-day nationwide general strike was in protest against the faulty policies of the government that have deeply hurt the common man, salaried and working people.
“This is in protest against the rampant corruption, unchecked price rise of food items of mass consumption, increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, LPG cylinders, rising unemployment, increasing poverty, rampant violation of labour laws and the government’s failure to provide social security to the unorganised labour”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Goa government on Monday invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ensure that there is no disruption in transport services during the two-day national general strike called by number of trade unions.
“Government of Goa in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988 and being satisfied that in the public interest it is necessary to do, hereby prohibits strike in any form in All Transport Services for the carriage of passengers or goods by land or water in the State of Goa,” an order issued by Under Secretary (Home-I) Pritidas Upaso Gaonkar said.
It said that the ESMA will remain in force for a period of six months.
Though the general strike received lukewarm response in Goa on Monday, the trade unions will hold a mass rally and public meeting at Panjim on Tuesday. The public rally will start from the KTC Bus Terminus, Panjim at 9:30 am and will culminate into a public meeting near municipal garden.
