PORVORIM: Chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said on the floor of the House that the government has no plans to reserve 80%
jobs in private industries for Goans. "Employment is a tricky issue. It is difficult to implement 80% jobs to locals throughout," Parrikar said.
He was replying to a discussion after St Cruz MLA Antonio Fernandes raised a question whether new industries planning to set up shop in the state have been given an approval with a condition that they would reserve 80% of jobs for locals.
Parrikar said with "affirmative action" the government can ensure more Goans are employed. Hence, the government is following "positive discrimination by which we can regulate industries which will employ Goans. We cannot discriminate by
reservation. It is not possible to shut down industries not employing Goans".
But the chief minister said those companies that are availing land from Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) have to employ locals. The industries department is in the process of notifying about seven new incentive schemes by this month-end and those industries that employ Goans will get benefit under this scheme. "These schemes are likely to be notified before New Year," Parrikar said.
He also said that there was no dearth of jobs in Goa, but the problem was that "most want government jobs because of security and better pay. Goans are not inclined to work in the private sector".
Parrikar also said Goans, who are willing to "hard work", will not find it difficult in finding employment.
The government, he said, is "serious about creating employment". The human resource development corporation has started training men and women, who would be inducted as security guards at the government offices. "In the next 8-10 months, 1,000-1,200 people would be employed as security personnel and housekeepers," Parrikar said.
Already, at least 500 persons, including women, have been sent for training. "They are given stipend and their cost of training is also borne by the government," Parrikar said.
The number of enrolled applicants registered in employment exchange as on November 30, is 1,20,931.
