Citizens for Democracy Goa Demands Policy Framework for Long-Serving GRES Employees

 

Citizens for Democracy Goa Demands Policy Framework for Long-Serving GRES Employees

Panaji, August 7: Citizens for Democracy Goa has submitted a representation to the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa, demanding immediate policy intervention to safeguard the future of long-serving employees engaged through the Goa Recruitment and Employment Society (GRES).

In the representation, signed by Shri Elvis Gomes, the organisation expressed concern that hundreds of GRES employees have served various Government departments for over a decade with dedication and efficiency but continue to remain on contractual engagements without job security, fair service conditions, or retirement benefits.

The organisation stated that these employees have become an integral part of the Government's administrative machinery and have acquired valuable institutional knowledge over the years. However, despite their contribution, they continue to face uncertainty, low wages, and the absence of a clear career path.

Shri Elvis Gomes pointed out that the Government has, in the past, made provisions for members of the Home Guards—whose services are purely voluntary under the Bombay Home Guards Act, 1947—to be regularised as Police Constables. He said that if such a policy could be extended to voluntary Home Guards personnel, there is a much stronger case for extending similar consideration to GRES employees, who have rendered continuous, full-time service to various Government departments for over ten years.

The organisation also noted that many GRES employees have either crossed or are approaching the upper age limit for regular Government recruitment, which could permanently deprive them of the opportunity to secure stable employment after years of public service.

Citizens for Democracy Goa has urged the Government to formulate a comprehensive policy for all GRES employees with ten or more years of continuous service. Among its key demands are guaranteed job security, rationalised pay scales, retirement benefits, age relaxation and service weightage in Government recruitment, and a transparent, time-bound mechanism for the absorption of eligible long-serving employees into regular Government service.

The representation further called upon the Government to prioritise investment in its human resources by redirecting expenditure from non-essential public events towards securing the livelihoods and dignity of workers who have contributed significantly to the functioning of the State administration.

Citizens for Democracy Goa expressed hope that the Government would respond with concrete policy measures to ensure social justice and fair treatment for long-serving GRES employees.