Goa: Taxi, hotel operator unions to support lifeguards' strike

Various tourism stakeholders here have decided to join hands with the lifeguards in Goa who are on a strike seeking regularisation of their services.
"We will have tourism stakeholder unions like taxi owners, shack owners, hotel and small guest house operators, water sports operators and others arriving in Panaji in our support, tomorrow," Suhas Naik, the leader of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) which is spearheading the srike, said.
More than 600 lifeguards employed by Drishti Lifesaving Services, a contractor for Goa Tourism, are on a strike for the last 12 days, demanding that their services should be regularised and minimum wages paid to them.

The company, which is the only lifeguard service providers in Goa, has already announced that they will not concede to the demands and started the recruitment of fresh batch of lifeguards.
Naik said the company has been accorded the contract to man beaches by the state's tourism department at a cost of Rs 28.30 crore annually while their salary liability is only Rs 9 crore a year.
"There is a clear Rs 19 crore benefit a year for the company. We demand that an inquiry should be conducted," he claimed.

AITUC, on behalf of the lifeguards, has decided to file a complaint with the Vigilance Department tomorrow, seeking a probe into the financial transaction related to the contract.

We will also write to Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) as it is suspected that public funds were siphoned off, Naik alleged.
He said the company has been provided with necessary infrastructure like jeeps, lifesaving boats and others by the tourism department, thereby making the contract virtually investment free.