PANAJI: The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has warned the Goa government that it will intensify its agitation if the long-pending demand for the regularisation of around 2,700 Public Works Department (PWD) Labour Supply Society workers is not resolved during the upcoming Assembly session.
Addressing the press at Azad Maidan on Thursday, INTUC Federation State President Adv. Ajay Prabhugaonkar said the union had waited for over three months after submitting a memorandum to PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and the Principal Chief Engineer, but had received no concrete response from the government.
"We have shown patience for nearly three months. The government assured us that the matter would be taken up positively, but July is ending and there is still no decision. Enough is enough. If this issue is not resolved in the upcoming Assembly session, we will intensify our agitation in September," Prabhugaonkar warned.
He said INTUC had submitted a detailed memorandum on April 27 explaining the legal provisions under which the workers could be regularised. According to him, the union was initially told that the proposal had been forwarded positively and was awaiting a decision by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
"We were informed that only the Chief Minister's meeting was pending and that the department had taken a positive stand. Based on those assurances, we appealed to the workers to remain patient. But months have passed without any decision," he said.
Prabhugaonkar alleged that nearly 2,700 workers employed through the PWD Labour Supply Society continue to perform the same duties as permanent government employees while being denied equal pay, job security and service benefits.
"Whether they are data entry operators, multi-tasking staff or billing personnel, they perform the same work as regular employees. Yet they continue to face discrimination in salaries and service benefits," he said.
He urged the government to show "political will" and resolve the issue before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force ahead of the next Assembly elections.
"If this continues, the code of conduct will soon come into force, and the issue will be pushed aside for another five years. We will not allow that to happen," he said.
Referring to the recent decision to regularise electricity department meter readers, Prabhugaonkar said the government had acted swiftly after an INTUC-led agitation and should extend the same approach to PWD workers.
"We thanked the Chief Minister for acting on the electricity department workers' issue. Now the same justice should be extended to the remaining contract workers, especially those in the PWD Labour Supply Society," he said.
Prabhugaonkar also criticised the continued recruitment of workers on daily wages through the Labour Supply Society, saying it leaves young employees trapped in insecure jobs for years.
"A youth joins at the age of 22 as a daily wager and remains temporary even after 10 to 15 years. This is making a mockery of Goan youth. The government must stop this practice and frame a proper employment policy," he said.
He further alleged that while the government had introduced policies for sectors such as casinos, mining and town planning, it had failed to prioritise employment, agriculture and education.
"The government has no time to formulate a proper employment policy for Goan youth," he remarked.
Several workers shared their experiences during the press conference, highlighting the hardships they continue to face despite decades of service.
Laxman, a worker from the Pernem water supply division, said he has served for nearly 20 years without receiving the benefits available to permanent employees.
"We do the same work as regular workers but receive lower salaries and almost no benefits. We cannot even secure loans or educational assistance for our children. I have only two years left before retirement. What will happen to us after that?" he asked.
Another worker, Subhash, who joined the department in 2002, said employees have continued to work without adequate facilities since the Labour Supply Society was formed in 2003.
"I worry constantly about my family's future. Even after all these years, we have no security or benefits," he said.
A woman employee who has completed 12 years of service appealed to the government to regularise workers or place them on the same pay scale as permanent staff.
"We perform regular government work but receive no pension and very few benefits. We only seek equal treatment and a secure future for our families," she said.
Responding to a question on whether the issue could realistically be discussed during the three-day Assembly session, Prabhugaonkar said the matter required only political consensus.
"It concerns 2,700 families. If both the government and the opposition support it, it can be resolved in a minute. What is needed is genuine political will," he said.
INTUC reiterated that it remains open to discussions with the government and is prepared to participate in consultations to resolve the issue. However, the union warned that if no assurance is given during the Assembly session, it will launch a stronger agitation in September.
