Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has issued a notice to the State Labour Commissioner over allegations that mandatory compensation has not been disbursed to the families of workers who lost their lives in the December 6 fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub.
The action was taken following a complaint submitted by the Hotel Employees Federation of India (HEFI), Panaji, on December 22, which alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Employees’ Compensation Act. According to the complaint, the legal heirs of the deceased workers have yet to receive the compensation they are entitled to under law.
The Commission, led by Acting Chairperson Desmond D’Costa along with Member Pramod Kamat, has directed the Labour Commissioner to submit a detailed response and appear before the body for a hearing scheduled on January 29, 2026, at 10.30 am. The appearance may be made personally or through an authorised representative.
HEFI stated that the nightclub fire resulted in the deaths of 25 people due to severe burns and asphyxiation, including 20 employees who were working at the establishment at the time of the incident. The deceased workers hailed from several states including Jharkhand, Assam, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra, as well as from Nepal. Their mortal remains were transported to their hometowns with expenses borne by the government.
The federation further stressed that compensation is legally mandatory in cases where workers die in the course of employment. It added that, given that most of the victims’ families reside outside Goa, the Labour Commissioner ought to have initiated action on his own to ensure timely payment of compensation by the employer.
