Anger over delay in salaries; MMC expresses helplessness, says insufficient funds
the goan I network
VASCO
Speaking to The Goan, some workers said they normally received salaries by the first of every month, which would help them plan their monthly expenditure
accordingly.
“When we went on a two-day strike in November 2015 over a delay in payment of salaries, MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik had assured us that there won’t be such delay in future and paid our salaries on time till March 2016,” said a labourer.
Of the 360-odd staff, the worst-affected are about 300 labourers and truck drivers as their monthly expenses depend on their salaries.
When contacted, MMC Chairperson Naik said he was aware of the strike threat by the staff, but said he could not do anything due to insufficient funds. “As far as payment of salaries, there is no hard and fast rule that the salaries should be paid by first as there is a time limit till 10th of every month,” Naik said.
“We are facing a financial crunch, as we haven’t received the octroi of about Rs 1.74 crore for the financial year 2014-15 and the salary grants of about Rs 5.9 crore for the last two years,” he said.
“We have been managing the salaries through recoveries and even after taking personal interest, the recovery section has failed to carry out their duty of recovering the outstanding,” added Naik.
“I will somehow manage to pay salaries of the workers, but will delay the salaries of the recovery section and other officers, as they have failed to recover the arrears and other outstanding amount,” said Naik. The Chairperson said he has given the recovery section a free hand even to seal the premises, if they fail to pay the dues. “Surprisingly, the recovery section has not taken its responsibility seriously,” he said. Naik informed that he had brought the issue of salary grants and octroi amount to the notice of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza. “After listening to our grievances, the chief minister has scheduled a meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday.”
I am sure Parsekar will help us resolve this situation and will allot us the salary grants and octroi, which will help us pay salaries on time and to overcome the financial crisis, Naik added.
Gaurish Parsekar, one of the leaders of the 360 employees, said he was not aware about the strike. “We have not received any notice of strike from the labourers concerned,”
he said.
He said it was a norm for all government offices to pay their staff on the first day of every month. “All details pertaining to salaries are processed one week in advance. We understand that there is a financial crunch in the MMC and we will wait for a few days to chalk out our course of action.”
