Industry bodies meet CM, convey dismay over hike in minimum wages

Times of India | 4 days ago | 25-11-2022 | 04:56 am

Panaji: The upward revision in minimum wages appears to have upset calculations for the private sector, with 21 industry associations, including private nursing homes, highlighting their concerns about the 80% hike. In an indicator that all is not well, representatives from the 21 industry bodies approached chief minister Pramod Sawant at the Rojgaar Melava and urged him to reconsider the labour department’s move.The representatives said that hiking the minimum wages from Rs 307 to Rs 553 will be “suicidal” for Goa’s industry. The delegation also told Sawant that the labour and employment department’s move runs contrary to the state government’s aim to make Goa industry-friendly.“The industry delegation submitted a comparative chart showing how minimum wages in Goa are higher than most other states. The industry members said that with no tax incentives and advantages, there is no reason why new investors will come to Goa,” said an official.An industry delegation met Sawant after the Rojgaar Melava to draw the government’s attention to the concerns.The 21-member delegation also conveyed their concerns to labour and employment minister Atanasio Monserrate and industry minister Mauvin Godinho. Sawant and Godinho assured the private sector that their concerns will be looked into.While Goa’s manufacturing sector has repeatedly warned about the adverse implications of the wage hike, this is the first time that other organisations have publicly come forward to highlight concerns. The Goa Cashew Manufacturers Association, the Goa Electronics Dealers Association, Caterers Association of Goa, National Restaurant Association of India, Shipyards Association of Goa, Association of Private Nursing homes, All Goa Khajekar Association and Goa Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers’ Association are among the 21 private industry bodies that have come forward. The organisations have pressed for three demands, chief among them is a correction in the recently notified minimum wage. The industry has also urged the government to remove the clause that links Goa’s minimum wages with the Centre’s notification. “Going from Rs 307 to Rs 553 is an 80% hike and is suicidal. This is a misguided figure,” said an industry representative. Each industry body has given individual letters to the chief minister which specifies concerns for their respective sector,” said an official.

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Times of India | 1 day ago | 28-11-2022 | 04:17 am

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1 day ago | 28-11-2022 | 04:17 am

Panaji: Tourism is one of the largest revenue generating sectors in Goa and keeping the state’s beaches is important so the growth of this sector continues, said Amruta Fadnavis, wife of ex-Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Amruta’s Divyaj Foundation has organised a beach ‘Clean A Thon’ in Goa on November 28 at 8am at Miramar beach to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the environment.The event is being organised as part of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (Iffi) and Union information and broadcasting minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant, along with celebrities like Jackie Shroff, Remo D’Souza and Karan Kundra will participate in the clean-up drive.“Goa has such a big tourism industry. We are having the clean-up drive to just reignite an awareness which is already there within you. At Cannes too, there were sessions this time on sustainable development. And a film festival has the eyeballs to raise awareness about such a message,” said Amruta.“Tourism is one of the largest sectors in Goa. So we should see that this paradise remains a paradise forever,” said Fadnavis.

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Times of India | 4 days ago | 25-11-2022 | 04:36 am

Times of India

4 days ago | 25-11-2022 | 04:36 am

Panaji: Calling for a zero-tolerance approach to bribes-for-jobs, chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday appealed to citizens to report such cases to either the police, ministers or MLAs. Stating that persons asking for bribes in exchange for government jobs need to be arrested, Sawant said, “My government runs on the principle of na khaunga na khane dunga.”The chief minister, who was addressing the Rojgaar Melava organised by the state government at Raj Bhavan, said recruitment to government departments through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will begin from January. Eligible and capable candidates and not those with influence will be recruited, Sawant said. “Youth have to give only one exam for peon to LDC posts. For one peon post 5,000 applications and for five LDC posts 10,000 applications have been received. With the SSC, youth don’t have to repeatedly appear for exams and they also don’t have to run to MLAs,” Sawant said. Of the 1,250 joining letters given to candidates at the Rojgaar Melava, 900 are for the police department, 189 for the directorate of fire and emergency services, 59 for the directorate of agriculture, 54 for the directorate of planning, statistics and evaluation, and 11 for the department of river navigation. “When you get jobs without paying money, you should work dedicatedly for the people of the state,” Sawant said.“Our government is transparent and people-oriented. Still there are some who are trying to make false propaganda and some others who are trying to take advantage by promising government jobs in exchange for money. Those useless people should be arrested,” he said. “I am of the clear opinion that in case anyone approaches anyone for money for a government job then a complaint should be filed with the police department or a direct complaint should be made to MLAs or ministers,” the chief minister said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, has set a target to provide 10 lakh jobs. While 64 Goan youth have joined central government departments, Sawant said that in the past seven month, besides 1,250 jobs, around 500 candidates have been directly recruited in various government departments and 1,200 have got jobs at the Mopa airport. In the case of the recent job fair organised for 4,000 vacancies, 1,000 candidates have got offer letters, 1,000 have been called for a second interview and 2,000 jobs are still available, he said.The chief minister said that it is the vision of his government to provide government or private jobs to all those willing to be employed. “We have taken the initiative to make sure that not a single youth in the state remains unemployed,” Sawant said. He said that there two lakh opportunities will become available in the hospitality sector within the next five years and that the youth should get trained in some skill or should upgrade their skill.

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Times of India | 4 days ago | 25-11-2022 | 04:28 am

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‘Don’t create unnecessary controversies’: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai to Maharashtra CM on border row

The Indian Express | 4 days ago | 24-11-2022 | 02:40 pm

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Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Tuesday that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should not “create unnecessary controversies” and “intensify the row among the two states” after the latter’s statement promising pension to freedom fighters of Belagavi and other parts of Karnataka.The remarks by the two chief ministers have reignited a long-standing dispute between the two states over the rights to several villages along their shared border.Talking to reporters near his house in Bengaluru, Bommai said that the Border Development Authority has decided to release special grants for the development of Kannada schools in Maharashtra. Besides, he added, details will be collected of those who fought during the unification movement, freedom struggle and Goa Vimochan agitation, and were settled in Maharashtra, to give them a monthly pension.Jat taluka in Maharashtra’s Sangli district was facing a severe drinking water crisis due to drought and the government of Karnataka has evolved schemes to help people by providing water, Bommai added. All Gram Panchayats in Jat taluka have adopted a unanimous resolution saying the taluk should be included in Karnataka. “The state government is seriously considering it,” Bommai said.“There is harmony between the two states and we treat all language-speaking people equally. It is our duty to protect the interests of the Kannadigas who are settled in large numbers in Maharashtra,” Bommai added.While Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the state’s strategy, Bommai said that a strong team of advocates has been formed to resolve border issues.“Letters will be sent to leaders of Opposition in both Houses regarding the steps taken by the government in this regard. We are fully prepared to argue our case in the Supreme Court,” he said, earlier this week.Bommai’s statement follows a meeting held by Maharashtra CM Shinde to draw up a detailed plan to resolve the border dispute. On Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “We will contest our stand within the legal framework in the Supreme Court. Our government is committed to acquiring the Marathi-speaking villages along the Karnataka-Maharashtra border.”Bommai said the border row has become a political tool in Maharashtra and any party which is in power will raise this issue for political purposes, “but they have not been successful yet”. “We are capable of protecting the borders of Karnataka and have taken steps also. We have worked together when it comes to the land, language and water of Karnataka and have fought jointly. No one has the right to change the States Reorganisation Act,” he added.Bommai also referred to a pending case in the Supreme Court on the border dispute and said the application filed by the Maharashtra government has not been considered. “Discussion is going on regarding its maintainability. The apex court has not considered the main case and it may not be maintainable,” he said.

1,250 candidates to get govt job letters today: CM

Times of India | 5 days ago | 24-11-2022 | 04:35 am

Times of India

5 days ago | 24-11-2022 | 04:35 am

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday said that 1,250 candidates will be given joining letters on Thursday at Raj Bhavan. The rozgar melava function will be held at its darbar hall, and PM Narendra Modi is expected to deliver a video message. Sawant said that candidates who’ve received a message to get their joining letter should go to Raj Bhavan with their family members. The candidates will be placed in various departments including police, fire and emergency services, agriculture, planning, statistics, and evaluation. tnn

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