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Goa: Striking lifeguards' pay cut for 8 days, keep off beaches again

COLVA/CALANGUTE: Lifeguarding services were hit hard on Friday with most of Drishti’s staff not reporting for duty on beaches after Drishti Marine reneged on its assurance to pay their pending salary by Thursday.

Drishti claims that those who were on duty have been paid and the rest are going to be paid in the next couple of days.

However, along the Salcete coastal belt from Benaulim to Cavelossim , sources said that personnel have not reported for duty on Friday, not because of pending salaries but because the management informed them that whoever was part of the strike on Thursday would not be paid for eight working days. Drishti CEO Ravi Shankar admitted that they informed lifeguards about the salary deduction and, under the Essential Services Maintenance Act, they are permitted to do so.



On Thursday, Drishti had informed the media that the tourism department had cleared part of its dues, following which salaries had been credited to the accounts of lifeguards. But the salaries have not been credited, lifeguards said.

Drishti admitted that the strength of lifeguards is lower than normal, but added there is adequate staff to manage any emergency efficiently. The source said that Drishti has pulled in personnel from the Colva to Majorda stretch and deputed two each at Benaulim, Varca, Carmona and Cavelossim, bringing the strength on this highly-populated beach stretch to half. Drishti claimed that lifeguarding services were not affected as they had also brought in 25 lifeguards from the Special Rescue Training Academyto fill the void.

Lifeguards have been receiving their salary in instalments and not as a cumulative whole, the source said.

TOI was informed that just before Ganesh Chaturthi a majority of the lifeguards were paid less than half their salary and the balance was paid in instalments. Despite the company making public promises of bonuses, lifeguards haven’t received any for two years, sources said. Drishti refuted this saying that bonuses are disbursed every year even during lean years.

Drishti said, “The company regrets the delay in salaries and dues. Increment arrears from July are being processed and will be paid to all lifeguards including captains and supervisors who did not strike work. Arrears of all lifeguards present on duty Thursday will be paid on Friday.

Arrears of all lifeguards present on Friday will be paid by Monday. Bonus will be declared at Diwali and will be paid to employees who join duty.” An additional Rs 1,000 was paid to all lifeguards who showed up for work.

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