Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Jul 30: The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has warned the Goa government of intensifying its agitation if the long-pending demand to regularise around 2,700 workers employed through the Public Works Department (PWD) Labour Supply Society is not addressed during the forthcoming Assembly session.

Addressing a press conference at Azad Maidan on Thursday, INTUC Federation state president Adv Ajay Prabhugaonkar said the union had waited for nearly three months after submitting a memorandum to PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and the Principal Chief Engineer but had received no concrete response from the government.

"We have shown patience based on the government's assurances. However, with no decision taken so far, we will be compelled to intensify our agitation in September if the issue is not resolved during the Assembly session," he said.

Prabhugaonkar said the memorandum submitted on April 27 detailed the legal provisions under which the workers could be regularised. According to him, the department had conveyed that the proposal was under consideration and awaited approval from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

He alleged that the workers, including data entry operators, multi-tasking staff and billing personnel, perform the same duties as permanent government employees but continue to receive lower salaries and are denied job security and service benefits.

Calling for immediate action, Prabhugaonkar urged the government to demonstrate political will and resolve the issue before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect ahead of the next Assembly elections.

Referring to the recent regularisation of electricity department meter readers, he said the government had acted after an INTUC-led agitation and should now extend similar relief to PWD Labour Supply Society workers.

He also criticised the continued practice of recruiting employees on daily wages through the Labour Supply Society, claiming it leaves many young workers in temporary employment for years without any career security.

Several workers shared their grievances during the press conference. Laxman, an employee from the Pernem water supply division, said he had served for nearly two decades without receiving the benefits available to permanent staff.

Another worker, Subhash, who joined the department in 2002, said employees continued to work without adequate service benefits despite years of service. A woman employee with 12 years of service also appealed to the government to either regularise the workers or provide them with equal pay and benefits.

Prabhugaonkar maintained that the issue could be resolved quickly if there was political consensus, stating that it affected nearly 2,700 families across Goa.

INTUC said it remains open to discussions with the government but warned that if no concrete assurance is given during the Assembly session, it will launch a stronger agitation in September.