Move aims to counter strike from pharmaceutical sector employees
PANAJI
Anticipating strike from pharmaceutical workers, the State government has invoked Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988 prohibiting the employees of this sector from striking work for a period of six months.
An order issued by Under Secretary (Home-I) Vivek Naik, on October 10 has declared manufacturing, packaging, distribution and transportation of pharmaceutical products and components sector to be an essential service for ESMA with immediate effect.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (v) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988…, and being satisfied that in the public interest it is necessary to do so, hereby prohibits strike in any form in all establishments engaged in manufacturing, packaging, distribution and transportation of pharmaceutical products and components thereof in pharmaceutical sector in the State of Goa with immediate effect,” the order stated.
The order is valid for a period of six months. Before that in June and July too, the government had invoked ESMA for the sector.
Goa has about 54 pharmaceutical companies, which account for 12-15% of the country’s total pharmaceutical production. Trade Unions have been opposing the imposition of ESMA pointing out that the government is overstepping its authority.
