Goemkarponn desk
PONDA: Seventy employees from outside Goa have been employed as crew on barges at cost 169 retrenched Goan employees (crew); this was stated to the media by Puti Gaonkar, President of United Bargemen`s Association (UBA).
He said this is in violation of the Industrial Act 1947. He filed a complaint with the Labour Commissioner, IGP, Captain of Ports. Demand immediate justice to Goan retrenched Barge crew.
According to Puti Gaonkar, Vedanta Ltd has, since the past few months engaged the services of M/S Sagar Marina Services for managing /operating their four Barges.
According to Puti Gaonkar, during last season, the Goan crew were working in above mentioned four barges; however, for this season, they were not allowed to work on these barges and engaged new workers from outside Goa.
According to Puti Gaonkar in accordance with the provision of the Industrial Act 1947, the retrenched workers ought to be re-employed, and first preference shall be given to them; however, it is noticed that instead of re-employing the retrenched workers, the said management employed new barge crews on the above four barges.
Puti Gaonkar urged government intervention and direct the employer to re-employ the barge crew, who have worked on these barges for the last three to four years. Puti Gaonkar also displayed the list of retrenched workers.