PANAJI
Goa’s industrial sector has begun facing a manpower crunch as hundreds of migrant labourers have left the State due to lack of access to cooking gas.
The shortage of LPG, triggered by Middle East supply disruptions, has begun to sting manufacturing and pharma units.
HR companies said the crisis escalated after the sale of 5 kg mini-cylinders, usually available over the counter at gas agencies, was abruptly stopped. For many migrant workers, these cylinders were the only affordable source of fuel. “It was their only source of cooking.
"They (migrant labour) have left in hoards and now we are finding it difficult to source manpower being sought by our clients,” said Vignesh Apte, director of Ananya Manpower Solutions Pvt Ltd.
Apte added that several clients have been making continuous inquiries.
“Despite a robust database of industrial workers, sourcing manpower has become extremely difficult. They are not willing to return unless assured that the LPG supply situation has normalised,” he said.
Industry sources confirmed that production operations are being hit.
“The manufacturing sector is already feeling the strain. The pharma sector too has started facing delays,” one industry source said.
Officials from industry associations, while unwilling to be quoted, admitted that manpower shortages have cropped up since the Middle East disturbances.
The exodus of workers has exposed vulnerabilities in Goa’s industrial ecosystem with HR firms struggling to fill vacancies.
Apte warned that if the situation persists, the impact could deepen.
“We are staring at a slowdown unless supplies stabilise. The labour force is the backbone of industry, and without them, operations cannot run smoothly,” he said.
LPG shortage has thus set off a chain reaction with the migrant workers leaving, HR firms struggling, and industry facing production hurdles.
