Fate of show cause notice to 20-odd units remains unknown

On March 17, 2023, then Labour Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes, IDC Managing Director,  Abhishek along with the Inspector of Factories and Boilers,  had unearthed big blocks of residential units inside the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, confirming what was feared all along that industrial workers are accommodated inside the estate in violation of norms.

That’s not all. After the illegal residential units were unearthed by the joint inspection team, show cause notices were issued to 20-odd industrial units by the GIDC Managing Director,  raising hopes amongst the citizens of Cuncolim that a whip against the residential units at the Cuncolim IDC was imminent.

Then Labour Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes had told the media after the inspection that the team had unearthed gross violations of labour norms by the industrial units by housing their workers inside the factory premises.

Sadly, the fate of the show cause notice still remain unknown and whether any action has been initiated by the GIDC or the Industries department or the Labour department against the erring units.

It is also unknown whether any fresh inspection of the units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate has been carried out by the Labour department, Goa Industrial Development Corporation and the Inspector of Factories and Boilers.

When The Goan called up Labour Commissioner Levinson Martins to shed light on the ground reality at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, vis-à-vis the residential units housing workers, he promised to  look into the matter.  “I have assumed office of Labour Commissioner only recently. I will find out on the inspection carried out at the Cuncolim industrial estate and the violation of labour norms by the units”, Martins said, adding that necessary action will be initiated if instances come to light on violations of labour norms by the industrial units.