NT NETWORK

Ponda

Stating that the government has played its part by absorbing all contract workers under the society and now it is the workers turn to improve water supply to the public, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar on Monday announced that contract labour system in the department will be abolished.

Pauskar was speaking inside the water treatment plant premises at Opa-Khandepar at the function held to hand over offer letters to around 326 contract workers of PWD from Ponda, who were absorbed under the society recently. Cooperative Minister Govind Gaude, Goa Housing Board chairman and Shiroda MLA Subash Shirodkar, PWD principal chief engineer Uttam Parsekar and others were present on the dais.

“PWD’s contract workers, who were working under the agency, have finally got their rights after serving people for 10-12 years. All workers have been absorbed under PWD’s society. The government has decided to completely abolish the contract labour system in PWD,” Pauskar said.

Pauskar also informed that considering that the sewerage treatment plant (STP) work in the state is pending, the government has decided to first set up STP and then only start the network-laying work.

“The STP network laying work was started even before purchasing required land for the STP and it has ruined the entire work schedule. So, in future land purchases and other formalities will be completed first,” the Minister said.

Minister Govind Gaude urged PWD workers to sincerely do their duty as water supply comes under the ambit of essential services and so PWD workers in the water section have to be alert at all times.

Expressing happiness over absorbing of contract workers in the society, Subash Shirodkar informed that around 165 workers from his constituency have benefited.

Explaining about the absorbing of contract workers in PWD society, PCE Uttam Parsekar said that the government had taken a decision to enroll 1185 contract workers into the category of skilled, unskilled, semi-skilled workers and drivers with minimum wages as admissible under the government notification.

He also informed that after 8 years of service, workers will be entitled for government pay scale and other facilities.