The Government of Goa has unveiled a series of significant reforms in employment policy and personnel management, aimed at improving working conditions, recruitment transparency, and career opportunities for thousands of workers across the state.
Grant of temporary status to daily wage workers
Under the newly launched “Grant of Temporary Status to Daily Wage Workers Scheme 2025,” all daily wage workers who have been employed in government departments, corporations, or autonomous bodies for more than seven years will now receive temporary status. This status guarantees a fixed initial monthly remuneration ranging between ₹21,800 and ₹26,800, annual increments of 3%, and access to leave benefits such as casual, sick, and maternity leave. Beneficiaries will also be enrolled in social security schemes, including the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. Around 3,000 employees are expected to benefit from this initiative.
Mission Karmayogi
In line with budget commitments, all state government officers and employees must now complete at least three courses, totaling a minimum of six hours, annually on the iGOT Karmayogi platform. Completion records will be noted in their Annual Performance Appraisal Reports. As of now, 100% of government departments are onboarded, with 56,335 employees registered and 88,709 courses completed.
Skill and qualification requirements
A mandatory minimum of one year’s working experience, either as an apprentice under the Apprentices Act or in public/private organisations with at least five employees has been introduced for positions such as Multi-Tasking Staff, Lower Division Clerk, Junior and Senior Assistants, and Stenographers.
From 1 November 2025, all candidates will also need a minimum six-month diploma in computer skills from a recognised institute to meet recruitment standards.
Recruitment rules overhaul
The government has undertaken a large-scale revision of recruitment rules. Since the December 2022 circular mandating periodic updates, 94 recruitment rules have been revised or newly framed. Of these, 39 were over 15 years old, 19 over 10 years, 5 over 5 years, and 7 under 5 years, while 24 rules were completely new. Further upgrades are ongoing, with departments providing details of existing rules for review.
Regularisation and age relaxation measures
A policy to regularise contract workers with over 10 years’ service is under consideration. In 2024, the state granted a five-year age relaxation in direct recruitment for contract employees, lecture-basis teachers, and regular staff of aided educational institutions. Additionally, part-time teachers in the education department have been given contractual status, access to leave benefits, and a minimum salary of ₹25,000 with a 5% annual increment.
Children of freedom fighters
The reservation for children of freedom fighters in Group C posts was doubled from 5% to 10% in 2024. Since 2019, 230 of the 373 beneficiaries have been appointed, with only 25 vacancies remaining.
The compassionate appointment scheme was revised in 2023 to prioritise dependants of government servants who die in accidents while on duty. The income limit for eligibility was raised from ₹3.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh, applicable retrospectively from April 2017. Since 2019, 365 candidates have been appointed under the scheme.
Absorption of Home Guards
Acknowledging their long-standing voluntary service, 196 Home Guards have been absorbed into the police force as constables.
GHRDC
The Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC), now self-sustainable since ceasing to receive grants in January 2021, employs over 4,500 personnel across more than 300 locations in Goa. The staff includes security guards, housekeeping personnel, drivers, and office assistants. The government has reserved 10% of vacancies in key departments for GHRDC staff and introduced a one-time education reimbursement of ₹10,000 for employees pursuing higher studies. Plans are underway to extend employment opportunities to local youth in the private sector through the corporation.
Merit-based recruitment
Since the Goa Staff Selection Commission Act came into force in September 2019, recruitment for all Group C posts has been routed through the GSSC. Vacancy requisitions have steadily increased: 22 departments sent 100 requisitions for 922 vacancies in 2023; 30 departments sent 115 requisitions for 1,082 vacancies in 2024; and 41 departments submitted 184 requisitions for 1,425 vacancies in 2025. This totals 3,429 vacancies, of which 1,221 have been advertised and 48 filled, with 2,208 yet to be advertised.
