PANJIM: The trade unions in Goa has come down heavily on the government for failing to tackle several problems related to the working class including loss of jobs in the mining sector. As the International Labour Day is observed annually on May 1, the union leaders have expressed serious concern over rising problem that workers endure every day.
“Over the past five years, there have been numerous attacks on the workers and their job security has been at stake. One example of the loss of job in Goa is in the mining sector as around 35,000 workers have lost employment owing to the shutting down of the mines. This is a threat to employment,” All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Secretary Suhas Naik told Herald.
Many mining companies have retrenched their workers citing closure of operations since the year 2012. The ban which was partially lifted in April 2014 but it was stalled for the second time when the Supreme Court halted all the mining activities from March 15, 2018.
While there is still uncertainty over the government’s ability to find a solution in the near future or even in the long run, Naik also spoke about the problems of workers’ in the tourism industry, which has replaced mining as the top-most source of revenue in Goa.
He hinted at Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s project – Goamiles mobile taxi app service and the Kadamba bus service from the airport, which he said are competing with the traditional transport business.
“Many stakeholders such as the taxi and private transport are not seeing any growth in this industry because the government is competing with them. The government has started the business via apps where tourists are picked up from the airport or in the air conditioned bus and then taken to the five star hotels. They even move around exploring Goa in these buses whereby they are not given an opportunity to interact with the locals. This is affecting the business of the stakeholders. Moreover, the government is not providing the assured subsidies to them. The only one profiting from this is the government itself,” he said.
Naik also emphasised on the need to revise the minimum wage rate wherein Rs 20,000 per month would be paid to unskilled workers. “The working class should rise up, and be united irrespective of their caste, class, religion, region, or language. We need to stop this onslaught on the workers’ rights,” he added.
John Nazareth, the former President of the Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) complained about the increasing contractual employment problem as well as underpayment to a large section of daily and contract labourers.
“At many places, the workers are employed on contact basis or other terms of employment which leads to under payment of their services. After a period of time, they are thrown out of the job and the unemployment problem remains unregistered. Moreover, when there is contract employment the fear of being fired drives them to do whatever they are asked by their bosses. They do not get the opportunity to serve the general public,” he said.
When asked about the issues that are encountered by the government services, he said that various benefits like promotions are not given in time, due to which many employees are frustrated and are therefore unable to deliver their best in the service. He also highlighted the unemployment among educated youth.
