Will collect data on Goans employed in industries in 3 months: Monserrate

Porvorim: Minister for labour and employment Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate on Friday said in the state assembly that data of all those employed in industries in Goa, including whether they are Goan or non-Goan, will be gathered within the next three months. His statement came after some legislators demanded a law to reserve 80% jobs in the private sector in Goa. “Within three months we will get all data from industries, including names and addresses of workers,” said Monserrate.
Margao MLA Digamber Kamat said that it is ridiculous that the government does not have the data yet and that the response, that industries are refusing to provide the information, is unacceptable.
“They are using electricity and land provided by us and they are not giving us the data?” Kamat questioned.
Heated arguments ensued when Fatorda legislator Vijai Sardessai said that Goa should pass an act like Haryana making it mandatory for the private sector to recruit Goans in 80% of the jobs.
“Your ally in Haryana has passed an act to make it compulsory to employ 80% locals,” said Sardessai
He said that employment data shows that unemployment is up, but vacancies in the private sector are not being uploaded on the state portal as mandatory.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that employment data can get misinterpreted at times because those registered with the employment exchange could be working in private jobs, but are on the exchange list in search of better opportunities. He said that presently, there are 9,750 individuals looking for employment in Goa, as per government data.
Sawant, PWD minister Nilesh Cabral and tourism minister Rohan Khaunte got into heated arguments with Sardessai when the latter rejected their claim that there was a Supreme Court stay on the Haryana act providing for reservation in private sector jobs for locals.