Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, after a cabinet meeting at Mantralaya in Porvorim on Thursday, announced that the government has approved an amendment to the Employment Exchange Act. This change makes it compulsory for private companies to advertise job vacancies within the state. Companies that fail to do so will face a penalty of up to Rs 30,000.
But is this really a big favour for Goans? Will private companies, known for hiring outsiders at low wages and exploiting them for years, now start giving Goans first preference and treating them well because of this decision?
If the government truly wants to improve employment opportunities for Goans, it should go beyond just amending the law. It must make it compulsory for all private companies to provide a list of Goans currently employed with them. Strict action, including heavy fines or even cancellation of licences, should be taken against companies that refuse to hire Goans under some excuse. Simply forcing companies to advertise job vacancies within the state will do little more than create false hope among job seekers.
