Goa likely to drop clause to mandatory employ 80% of locals

PANAJI: The Goa government is toying with the possibility of dropping the clause making it mandatory for industries to employ 80 per cent of Goans, if they wish to expand, a senior Goa state industries department official said here today.

"The government is of the view that those who are qualified and have been working with companies for years can not be sacked or disturbed merely to provide employment to Goans," the official said.

The Goa government has constituted a State Investment Promotion Board which has been clearing proposals for setting up new industries and also expansion of existing units in the state.

The government had made it mandatory that these industries should employ 80 per cent locals in it, which would make the unit eligible for state sponsored schemes.

Schemes like the Goa State Employment Subsidy Scheme, has envisaged subsidies to industrial units.

The official stated that the clause of mandatory 80 per cent employment to Goans would be dropped only during expansion and not for new industrial units.

So far, the State Investment Promotion Board has approved 43 new industries and expansion of existing industrial projects in Goa, worth Rs 3,117 crore which could potentially generate 8,100 jobs, he said.