Panaji: Even as many migrant labourers in the state are desperate to go back to their native states in view of the nationwide lockdown imposed due to COVID-19, and the state government is making arrangements to transport them, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Tuesday urged the government to put in place some counselling measures so as to see if migrants holding jobs can be convinced to stay back.

The GCCI pointed out that unchecked departure of migrant workers from the state will have an adverse impact on some of the local industries and the construction and agriculture sectors.

In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the GCCI has said that if the migrant workers go to their home states now, return of these workers may take a long time thus affecting the functioning of many Goan industries.

According to the local trade body, many of the migrant workers have been provided with shelter, food and wages during the entire period of lockdown and they are not really stranded in the true sense of the word. “Now that they (migrant workers) are getting a free ride to their home states, many have left their employers high and dry,” alleges the memorandum made to the Chief Minister.

The GCCI is suggesting screening of the migrant workers to separate the stranded from the workers with jobs. “No doubt, if any migrant  worker is really stranded with no job and shelter or any means of  livelihood in Goa and wants to go back to his home state, no one  should prevent him from doing so,” argued GCCI in the memorandum signed by president Manoj Caculo. 

So far, around 80,000 migrant labourers and workers in the state have applied before the government for travel permit to leave following the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs permitting interstate movement of stranded people during the ongoing lockdown.