PANAJI
In a significant labour welfare measure, the Goa cabinet on Wednesday approved a one-time extension of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) benefits to nearly 7,000 contract workers across various government departments, with retrospective effect from 2017.
The decision is expected to cost the State exchequer an estimated Rs 2.5“3 crore. CM Pramod Sawant, who chaired the meeting, made the announcement at his post-cabinet press briefing. “This was a long-pending demand. Although it will cost the government about Rs 3 crore, the cabinet decided in its favour,” Sawant said.
The move is expected to benefit workers employed on contractual terms in departments such as PWD, Electricity, Water Resources, and Health, many of whom have been serving for over a decade without access to retirement savings schemes.
Pay parity for future hires
In another decision aimed at improving the service conditions of future temporary appointments, the cabinet approved a proposal to bring all future ‘work-charge’ personnel ” temporary staff hired for specific projects ” under the 6th Pay Commission pay structure. However, the pay structure of existing temporary employees, who are already covered by perks stipulated in the 7th Pay Commission, will remain unchanged. “This will ensure uniformity and fairness in the remuneration of new recruits,” Sawant clarified.
Land for vet college expansion
Sawant said the cabinet has also cleared the transfer of over one lakh square metres of government land to the Goa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, located at Curti and Codar. The land will be leased to the institution for a period of 33 years. The move is expected to facilitate the expansion of veterinary education and research infrastructure in the State.
Ports, RND split approved
The cabinet also formalised the bifurcation of the Captain of Ports and the River Navigation Department into two independent departments, each with its own set of rules and administrative framework.
Decisions ahead of ZP polls
The cabinet decisions come at a time when the State government has been under pressure to address long-standing demands from various employee groups and improve public service delivery. It is also seen as a move to appease the large number of government and semi-government employees in the election season, with the ZP polls impending.
