Goa employment policy in final draft stage, says CM

PANAJI
Facing heat from the Opposition over rising unemployment and the unchecked entry of non-Goans into the private sector, the State government on Friday announced that it is in the process of formulating a comprehensive policy to regulate employment in the private sector. The move will ensure fair opportunities for Goan youth and streamline hiring through the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC).

“We will table the policy in the next session,” Sawant said, replying to a private members' resolution demanding concrete legislative measures to protect local employment.

The CM added that all future recruitments on contract or daily wage will be phased out. “A circular will be issued to remove daily wage or contract recruitments. If such appointments are needed, they will be routed through the GHRDC, and these jobs will be secured wherein government benefits like PF, maternity leave and other entitlements will be allowed once the probation period is completed,” he said.

He further revealed that the government is working on providing 10,000 jobs to the private and semi-government sectors via GHRFC. “In less than six months... we will have a policy in place... I will also chair a meeting with stakeholders, including the industry association and relevant ministers. We already have 60 per cent jobs in industries reserved for Goans,” he said, rejecting the demand by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao to constitute a task force.

Earlier, Labour and Employment Minister Atanasio Monserrate informed the House that the government has constituted a Task Force committee to draft a policy for employment in the private sector and, accordingly, the drafting of the policy is in the final stage of consideration.

“Employment Exchange Compulsory Notification to amend the Act to make it more stringent is forwarded to the Union Home Affairs Ministry for approval,” he added.

Responding to criticism on skilling initiatives, Monserrate claimed that various schemes were already in place to upskill Goan youth in line with market demands. He said private companies are already directed to register and update their employment needs with the Employment Exchange.

However, he also pointed to a worrying trend wherein pharma companies reported job vacancies for which not even one Goan applied. “This is about mindset. Many Goans are already working in the private sector or are self-employed, but don’t want to deregister because they hope to land government jobs. They are not unemployed,” he claimed, to which Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira, who moved the resolution, countered, stating that government jobs demand mandatory registration with the Employment Exchange.

Meanwhile, the minister shared the latest employment statistics wherein 1.74 lakh total employment cards are registered, 95,600 are registered as unemployed, 21,000 unemployed but pursuing further studies and 57,534 registered as employed.

Ferreira urged the government to ensure regularisation. “There are workers who have served 16–17 years on contract and retire without pensions. Government assurances to regularise some are welcome, but contractual posts must go,” he said.

AAP MLA Venzy Viegas criticised the government for lack of transparency and data on its much-touted skilling programmes. “You keep speaking of skilling, reskilling and upskilling, but in the last three years, there is no data on how many underwent training. Zero implementation is my charge against this government. Give us a report card, not speeches. Give department-wise data on the implementation of this scheme,” he said.