Digital Goa, July 25 – Opposition MLAs today grilled the government over rising unemployment in the state, pointing out that over 1.20 lakh Goan youth are registered with the Employment Exchange and that a central agency has pegged Goa’s unemployment rate at 19%, one of the highest in the country. They demanded that Goans be given first preference in job opportunities with full transparency. Government clarified that Employment Exchange numbers are inflated as many do not remove their names while hoping for government jobs. CM Pramod Sawant said the government has decided to stop hiring on daily wages and contract basis, and that the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation will now handle recruitment, even for private companies, giving priority to Goans. Labour & Employment Minister Babush Monserrate alleged that Goans are not showing interest in jobs available in industries like pharma and also dismissed the national agencies unemployment figures as inaccurate. Goa Forwards Vijai Sardesai pointed out citing LAQ answer figures that of the 1,39,615 cards done under the labour smart cards scheme, 65,871 are Goans and 73,844 from other states. IPB approved 17 projects promising 9,244 jobs but actually only 43 jobs have been created so far, he added.
