Reveals violation of labour norms; GIDC to issue show cause notices to violators
MARGAO
What was feared all along at the Cuncolim industrial estate has come true? Big blocks of residential units inside the industrial estate has been unearthed on Friday, indicating that labour and industrial norms were thrown to the winds by industrial units in connivance with officials.
In fact, a joint inspection by Labour Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes, IDC Managing Director Abhishek and the Inspector of Factories and Boilers at the Cuncolim industrial estate revealed that industrial units, including fish processing plants and steel rolling mills have been playing host to illegal residential units right under the nose of the authorities.
In fact, the glaring discrepancies related to labour norms unearthed by the joint inspection has only reinforced the theory that unscrupulous industrial units had turned the estate into makeshift accommodation for the workers employed in the units. Even the death of an industrial worker in the ammonia gas leakage, while he was sleeping in an adjoining unit, did not spur the authorities, including the IDC and Labour officials to order a crackdown on the erring units housing workers inside the units.
Labour Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes was categorical in saying that the joint inspection has unearthed rampant violation of labour norms by the industrial units.
In fact, Agnelo pointed out the inspection team has found residential blocks inside the Cuncolim industrial estate. “We have come across residential blocks inside the estate housing around 200-300 labourers. Most of these discrepancies were found in fish processing and steel rolling mills,” he said.
To a question, the Labour Commissioner pointed out that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation will issue show cause notices on the violators, adding that the IDC will have to take a call on the sealing of the residential units for violating the norms. “You cannot have residential units inside the industrial estate. The workers employed in the units are required to be provided accommodation outside the estate,” Agnelo added.
GIDC Managing Director, Abhishek too confirmed that the inspection team has come across violations by a couple of industrial units. “We have found the violations and action as per the law will be initiated against the units,” he said, adding that the IDC will initiate action after complying with the formalities.
This is perhaps the first time that a joint inspection by the three agencies have been carried out inside the Cuncolim industrial estate. The inspection assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the reports even by the health authorities that the main cause of spread of dengue and malaria inside the industrial estate in the past was due to the residential units inside the industrial estate.
