MAPUSA
Exhorting hoteliers to do a background check before hiring any labour, Chief Minister Pamod Sawant on Friday said such labour should be registered with the State Labour Department and provided with the recently launched Goa labour card.
Sawant also said that the local resident from Mandrem who intervened to save the tourist from the attack will be suitably rewarded by the State government.
He said the hotel where the attack took place had recruited the alleged accused without checking his background.
“In future, anyone who desires to employ staff should take the Goa labour card so that at least their permanent address will remain with the labour department. A verification of the criminal history should also be carried out. Such incidents (attack on foreigners) happen mostly with workers employed in hotels,” Sawant said, while making a mention of the attack on the foreigner in a hotel in Mandrem in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The CM said such incidents did not augur well for Goa which is a touristic State.
He further said that police were also carrying out investigations but hoteliers should take precautions before hiring outstation staff.
Sawant informed the House that the Mandrem resident, Eurico Dias, who intervened to save the tourist has been admitted in GMC and was out of danger.
“I congratulate Eurico Dias for saving the tourist. The State government will reward him,” he said.
Fatroda MLA Vijai Sardesai said the attack on the Dutch tourist was the second such attack in Mandrem-Morjim area and demanded setting up of a police outpost in the area.
“There is haphazard tourism activity happening in the area. The government should set up a police outpost there. Courts have also stepped in pertaining to illegal shacks,” Sardesai said.
The CM said the government will take suggestions from the police and accordingly take action.
A Dutch woman tourist was allegedly attacked by a staffer of a resort in Mandrem in the dead of the night two days ago. When the tourist raised an alarm a local rushed to her help but was also attacked with a knife by the accused.
While the accused has been arrested by Pernem police, the tourist and the local have been admitted in the GMC for treatment.
