The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), General Secretary, Christopher Fonseca called on the Government to look into the issues of the mining dependents and ensure employment. Speaking at the press conference, Fonseca said that they demand the activation of the state owned Development Corporation by finalizing all protocols. They should employ the workers and start mining without a gap of service. There should be seamless employment of all mining workers.
He also said that a “A Retrenched Mining Workers’ Scheme be evolved on the pattern of Goa Labour Welfare Board Scheme for the benefit of retrenched mining workers and those mining workers.
Thirdly, the workers and stakeholders must be provided with Rs 15,000 monthly retention allowance till mining resumes.
He lashed out at the Government that ‘it is no good to give assurances, winning an election and betraying mining workers of Goa.’ He said that in the event, the State Government decided to auction the 88 erstwhile mining leases, the subsequent tender notices must include a clause making it mandatory for new company/ entity to protect jobs, last drawn salaries and continuity of service of the existing mining workers working on these 88 mining leases. “I call upon the CM, Labour Minister, Governor that they should ensure all these workers are employed. If the clause doesn’t come in, we will consider it as a betrayal of the people and mining workers.”
He added that preference should also be given to the ‘sons and daughters of the soil.’