Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Wednesday extended support to the 130-odd workers of a company who are striking at Verna.
A delegation of GFP leaders including Sr Vice President Mohandas Lolienkar, Vice President Durgadas Kamat, Dilip Prabhudessai and Prashant Naik met the workers and discussed the reasons for the strike.
Later speaking to workers, Prashant Naik said industries usually adopt the use-and-throw policy and discard the same workers who built the company from inception.
“These workers have been meted with injustice because the employment card shows that these boys are already employed and hence they will not get a job elsewhere.”
“Profit and loss is a part of business and removing workers is never a solution. The company should not deprive the Goan youth of their jobs and their future,” said Naik.
“If the company is facing losses, why are they not removing management officials who are getting good salaries hike, perks and even incentives. We will question company officials and take this issue to the labour commissioner and the government as well.”
“The government, especially the labour minister, should have intervened and directed the company to take back the workers immediately,” he added.
GFP Vice President Durgadas Kamat said Goan youth have been removed but the same company has taken 50 more persons from other states after conducting interviews in Kolhapur.
“This means the company is doing well but does not want to absorb Goan workers because they will have to be given all benefits like gratuity, etc.”
“The reason why companies are recruiting people from other states is because the State government has failed to offer skilled training to people and on the other hand, they have been inviting any industries without protecting the interest of the workers,” said Kamat.
