PANAJI: With economic activity in disarray, job losers are increasingly grabbing to knee-jerk and fly-by-night informal business opportunities across Goa. Most visible across the length and breadth of the State are impromptu fish sellers.
In villages and towns, vantage locations along roadsides almost every 50-100 meters apart, sale of fish is brisk and is being attributed to people avoiding traditional market places for fear of contracting the dreaded Coronavirus.
Goa's youth, many of who have lost jobs here, abroad or aboard ships, have also taken to using traditional techniques to catch fish either for self consumption and to also sell and earn in coastal villages.
Another option being lapped up by job-losers similarly is selling veggies and fruits alongside roads.
Meanwhile, Protector of Emigrants (PoE) for Goa and Karnataka region Shubham Singh has said expats returning with jobs lost abroad is the highest concern among the displaced expat community.
Singh said during the pandemic, overseas Goans and Indians have lost jobs either because businesses they worked for have shut or they decided to opt for 'safe return' home.
Many are still returning and employers as well as recruitment agencies are helping them fly back home, Singh said, adding that his office steps in if they aren't getting help in their country of work.
The PoE works in tandem with agencies to help those affected by the pandemic to return, Singh added
Meanwhile the PoE is investigating complaints against allegedly 32 rogue recruitment agencies.
Singh said these agencies are "unregistered" and his office has received complaints against these.
Goa also has eight registered agencies, he added.
