PANAJI
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Thursday discontinued the services of 20 workers, sparking off angry reactions from opposition corporators.
According to sources, the CCP discontinued the services of 15 contract staff, who had served for over eight years, and five daily wage workers.
An order issued by CCP Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes on June 23 stated that the 15 contract staff would be given a break with effect from July 1.
The 15 contract staff who have been terminated consist of junior engineers (3), accounts clerks (3), clerks cum typists (4), lower division clerks (2), a clerk for Swatch Survekshan Mission, an assistant mechanic and an assistant electrician.
The retrenched staff complained that their services had been discontinued before their contract period had ended, while others lamented that they would find it difficult to get alternate employment.
"I have been working with CCP for the last 18 years and I am now 45. Where will I get another job at this point,” asked an aggrieved lady worker who had been terminated from service.
Meanwhile, opposition corporators criticised the retrenchment of the CCP workers and alleged that the move had been aimed at filling posts with new persons.
"He (Atanasio Monserrate) wants to remove these workers and replace them with his people to fulfil his assurance during the election," alleged senior corporator and former mayor Surendra Furtado.
According to sources, the move to terminate the services of 20 workers has also not gone down well with some corporators from the ruling group.
Mayor: CCP can manage with permanent staff
PANAJI: Defending the move to terminate the workers, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) insisted that the corporation could manage the work with the permanent staff and that, the temporary staff were not needed.
"The CCP commissioner has taken the step in his wisdom. We have a lot of permanent staff. The CCP can manage work with the permanent staff," CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate said.
CCP Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes did not respond to a call to explain the reasons for the termination in services of the 20 staff.
