Panaji: Security guards and housekeeping staff employed through the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC) are set to receive a significant pay hike, with the state government deciding to extend the benefits of the 6th Pay Commission to employees who have completed 10 years of service.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said the state government has decided to implement the 6th Pay Commission for eligible GHRDC employees. “The implementation will start soon,” Sawant said.
He said that jobs such as security personnel and housekeeping staff were once largely taken up by people who came to Goa in search of employment. However, after the state government established GHRDC to provide manpower to various government departments, more Goans began taking up these jobs.
Sawant said many GHRDC employees have now completed 10 years of service, prompting the government to extend benefits and increase their salaries.
He also announced a one-time benefit of Rs 15,000 for private sector employees who have completed 10 years of service. According to Sawant, around 2 lakh people are employed in the private sector.
“The private sector employees who are registered with the labour department will be eligible to avail the one-time benefit. We will soon officially announce the scheme,” Sawant said.
Sawant said the labour department has accumulated more than Rs 400 crore for the welfare of construction workers and other employees.
The chief minister also said the state government will bear the tuition fees of children of private-sector employees pursuing higher education courses such as MBBS and engineering.
State government would pay the tuition fees for higher education of children of private sector employees, including amounts such as Rs 60,000, chief minister Pramod Sawant said.
“For instance, if the annual tuition fee is Rs 60,000, state government will bear that cost for children of private sector employees pursuing higher education,” Sawant said.
The corporation has become self-sustaining by generating its own revenue for regular operations. It currently employs over 4,500 personnel across various categories, including security guards, housekeeping staff, junior office assistants, MTS staff, drivers and casual workers. They are deployed across more than 300 locations in government departments and autonomous bodies across Goa.
State government has also provided 10% reservation for GHRDC personnel in vacancies arising in the police, directorate of fire and emergency services, forest department and excise department.
