PANJIM: GOACAN has written to the Labour Commissioner asking for a need for an Action Plan to prevent Suicides among workers in Goa in the context of the impact of COVID-19.
In a letter to the Labour Commissioner Raju Gawas, GOACAN has pointed out that over the years there have been news reports that workers have committed suicide in different parts of Goa. These workers who have died to suicide have worked in Industrial Estates, Private Companies and at construction sites.
There is now concern that there could be an increase in the number of suicides by workers due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This could be due to a number of reasons like loss of jobs, cut in wages, family problems etc.
GOACAN is of the view that there is a need to prepare an Action Plan to prevent Suicides among workers in Goa by setting up a Core Committee with members from allied Departments & Corporations like Health, Social Welfare and GIDC, Trade Associations like GCCI, CII, GSIA, CREDAI, VIA etc, Trade Unions like AITUC, CITU & INTUC among others, NGOs and Mental Health professionals.
GOACAN has urged the Labour Commissioner to take up this initiative so that the labour force and their families in Goa may get the required help in the form counselling services, access to Helplines, sessions on mental health etc. at their workplace.
GOACAN has requested that this initiative be launched latest by 10th October World Mental Health Day so that labour welfare may be enhanced in Goa.
Copies of the GOACAN letter have been sent to the Chief Secretary, Secretaries for Labour & Health, Chairman Goa Industrial Development Corporation, respective Collectors & District Magistrates and DGP Goa Police.
