Team Herald
PANJIM: Drishti Marine on Tuesday said that the lifeguards, who protested against non- fulfillment of their demands are not their employees as some “absconded” from work for over a year. A statement issued by the lifeguards’ service agency stated that the striking “individuals” are not their employees.
“None of the individuals involved in the strike are employees of Drishti Marine. It’s been over a year since some employees absconded from work. At the time Drishti had reached out to the absconding former employees and requested them to join back while vacancies still existed. Over a 100 lifesavers joined back in the past one year. Presently, they have been reassigned to duty after successfully undergoing a revalidation training,” reads the statement.
The agency further stated that some former employees continued to stay away from work and subsequently after several months of absconding, their services were eventually terminated. The positions have since been filled by new recruits who have been trained and deployed along the coast.
“Every lifeguards needs to mandatorily undergo a revalidation training every year, from an authorised training centre to be considered a trained lifeguard,” the release stated. Amidst a global COVID-19 pandemic and through the lockdown, Drishti Lifesavers, part of Goa’s essential services continued to be on duty in north and south Goa.
