PONDA: Several industrial and trade union leaders called on the government to look into why so many industrial units are closing down in large numbers, which is having a domino effect on job losses and also creating issues regarding final settlement of retrenched employees.
Union leader Swati Kerkar pointed to the irony about the government talking about creating 50,000 to 1 lakh jobs in the years to come, but doesn’t bother to see how factory workers are suffering even though the companies have taken subsidies and benefits from the government.
She added that many factories are using unfair practices to sack employees or exploit their workforce laws depriving the employees of their right as per law. She added that people as young as 40 years are now jobless and forced to come on the streets.
Under the new law, union leader Ajitsingh Rane said the factory can be closed anytime without informing the government. He added that factories are exploiting this rule and making permanent workers join again as contract workers with new terms and conditions.
This has happened in factories at Bicholim and Sattari were workers are now earning less than half of their original salary.
Kerkar concurred that the amendments to the labour laws are only favourable to capitalists and that factories are taking advantage of employees citing the COVID pandemic. She gave the example of how some employees are forced to work 12 hours at a stretch and take salary cuts for the same.
She also gave examples of years have been spent since workers have been fighting factories that have closed to ensure that employees get their dues. Rane was worried about what will happen in the future with the diluted laws. He added that there are also a lot of difficulties now in forming labour unions due to the new laws.
Another person, who used to work at an industrial unit at the Kundaim Industrial Estate and is now jobless, accused his company of using unfair practices and demanded better work security for Goan employees all over the State, especially at industrial estates.
