Bloated Goa govt offers golden handshake to employees

Bloated Goa govt offers golden handshake to employees
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

PANAJI, MARCH 17: With one government employee for every 27 people in the state, the Government of Goa is facing an enormous financial crunch after implementing the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission. Chief Minister Fransisco Sardinha's government has now mooted the idea of introducing a Voluntary Retirement Scheme to get rid of some of the 50,000 government employees. The State Government's total wage bill amounts to Rs 30 crore every month.

As per a cabinet decision taken on Thursday, employees of the Government of Goa who have put in 20 years of service will be eligible to avail of 20 days' pay for every year of service - a total of 400 days. Employees with service between 20 and 25 years would be eligible for 16 days pay for every year of service exceeding 20 years - a total of 480 days. For every additional year of service an employee will be eligible for 12 days' pay. Sardinha noted that an employee with 30 years' service would therefore obtain 510 days' salary as part of the VRS package. In addition, normal retirement benefits like provident fund, gratuity and pension would be made available to those opting for the scheme, Sardinha said.

Unlike other state governments the Government of Goa has not included recruitment of Class III and Class IV employees within the purview of the Public Service Commission. Consequently, successive ministers have used the State Government's departments to employ people from their constituencies. An attempt by former governor Lt Gen (retd) J F R Jacob to bring these categories of employees within the ambit of the GPSC was overturned by former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro last year.

Sardinha himself has resorted to populism in the three months he has been in power. He has allowed state government employees to work abroad for five years at a stretch and return to their jobs after their stint overseas.

Even the present VRS scheme, which comes shortly before the State Government approaches financial institutions for loans, seems to be full of loopholes. Sardinha does not promise to abolish the vacancies caused by people opting for the scheme. If a need arises permission would be given to fill them, the Chief Minister said. The government, which also decided not to give service extensions to retiring employees, may re-employ them on contracts, according to Sardinha.

Meanwhile, government employees' associations in the State have rejected the VRS scheme on the grounds that it does not give enough benefits to those opting for it. The CM has however decided to persuade them to accept VRS package.