Lifeguards go on strike, CM tells them to approach Labour Dept

Lifeguards engaged for safety of tourists along the beaches in Goa today began a three-day strike demanding wage increase and regularisation of service, but the BJP-led Government in the state suggested them to approach the Labour Department as they are employed by a private agency.
Staying away from duty, leaving vast stretches of beaches unmanned, the lifeguards gathered outside state tourism department's head office here, raising slogans highlighting their demands.
They said the state government had earlier given an assurance that their demands would be considered but failed to honour that promise.
"The state government has forced us to take this extreme step. We didn't want to strike but this is the only way we can grab their attention," said Suhas Naik, state secretary, All India Trade Union Congress, spearheading the strike.

He said strike will continue till Sunday, after which a decision will be taken whether to go on an indefinite agitation or not, depending on the government's response.
Steering clear of the issue, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the Government had sympathy for the lifeguards but it could not do much since they are employed by a private agency and directed them to take up their demands with the state Labour Commissioner.

"We have sympathy for the lifeguards because they are Goans. But they are employed by a private agency and I feel government should not poke its nose in everything," Parsekar told reporters.

"If contractor has not paid them the wages they should approach the labour department or the commissioner of labour. We have outsourced the work and it is for the contractor to fulfill their demands," the Chief Minister said.
Nearly 600 lifeguards man 105 km-long sea line of the state and few other water-bodies in the hinterland, which are a big tourist attraction.
Lifeguards are employed by Drishti Lifeservices Private Limited, which has bagged the contract from state tourism department.
They had struck work between December 29 and January 13. The stir was then called off following an assurance by Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar and Goa Labour Minister Avertano Furtado.

Recently, the agency had approached the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on strike by lifeguards, arguing they they come under the Essential Services Management Act.
However, the High Court had refused to pass any order and dismissed the petition.