PANAJI
The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Monday slammed the government for allegedly trying to silence the workers by preventing union activities. A statement by GFP Vice President Durgadas Kamat has cited that the government spelt out benefits of workers' unions to resolve issues but the reality is contradictory.
“The Government of Goa has stated in the Assembly, the benefits of unionising… Despite this stand, the government not only has done little to further this, but also has actively stopped workers from unionising even in their own corporations. The concept of 'Union Bursting' prevalent in the US is being followed here in Goa, where local workers' unions have been systematically dismantled or weakened,” he alleged.
Kamat also produced data indicating 150 unions with 46,319 members exist in Goa, and added, “This is less than 25 per cent of the total number of people employed in Goa. Only one corporation, the IDC, has an employees union.”
The party further said that the government has failed to stick to its own position while citing that workers at the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation staff are warned not to unionise. “We must ask why. Is it because the GHRDC has something to hide?” Kamat sought to know.
The GFP, he added, will continue to take up issues like 80 per cent employment for locals in the private sector, minimum wage, equal pay regardless of gender, safety at the workplace, job security, and other pressing matters that Goan workers face, especially women, that have adversely affected the progress of our state.
The party also demanded that government must issue notices to factories to submit the list of their unions, and if they do not allow their staff to unionise, they should state their reasons; reach out to the unions across the state and organize regular interactive meetings to learn and address their grievances effectively and in a time bound manner; etc.
