the goan I network
CANACONA
Expressing disgust over non-payment of wages to several PWD (Water Supply) contract workers in Canacona for over a year, Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes requested PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar to expedite their pending wages even if it meant delaying his monthly MLA’s salary.
Fernandes was speaking at the Janata Darbar in the presence of PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar at Shristhal Panchayat Hall on Tuesday, after a contract worker complained that he and his co-workers in Canacona had not received their wages for the last 15 months.
“In the absence of wages since the last 15 months, we are unable to meet daily expenses at homes. Travelling to and from work has become a challenge for us as we do not have money for bus tickets or to purchase petrol and travel by our own transport,” lamented the worker.
“We have among us a newly married colleague and his condition at home has turned bad as well. We implore authorities to please pay us at least some amount and the balance can be cleared later,” the visibly upset worker added.
Continuing from where the contract worker had ended, Fernandes informed Pauskar that a PWD worker from Palolem had passed away and had not even received payments for the months he had worked.
Suffering continues
“I really feel bad about the state of affairs confronting some workers with PWD. In the past, I had approached then chief minister late Manohar Parrikar and these workers were paid wages for some months and now, they are again being made to suffer.”
“I have made several representations on behalf of these aggrieved workers but so far, nothing has been done in the matter. My plea for you as PWD minister is to please see that these workers get their pending wages at the earliest. If needed, delay my salary as MLA but please pay these contract workers without further hardship to them,” Fernandes requested the PWD minister.
