Porvorim, Aug 1 (KNN) Chief minister Pramod Sawant in the Legislative Assembly said that the government will integrate the skill development department, labour department and industries department to coordinate better to generate employment in the state.

“Skill gap analysis will be done, and we will make it compulsory for skill upgradation to fill skill gaps and Goans can join,” Sawant said.

Without giving any specific assurance to make 80 per cent jobs mandatory for Goans in the private sector, chief minister Sawant assured to introduce a new bill in the next assembly session to make mandatory for private industries to provide employment data to the government.

Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that the labour and employment ministry should fight against unemployment as it is a social evil today. Referring to the answer of labour minister Atanasio Monserrate that the department has no policy to collect unemployment data, Sardesai asked whether the government is serious about fighting against unemployment and how the government will fight against unemployment?

The Fatorda MLA said that there is no data with the government to reject the Niti Aayog’s claim on Goa being the third highest state with unemployment numbers.

“What is the target of the state government to create jobs in private sector and government departments and how many jobs will go to Goans?” Sardesai said.

On the unemployment rate in Goa based on central government and Niti Aayog data, Monserrate said, “The reports published by various agencies are not genuine and that is what we are disputing. Reports need explanation and what source these reports have used for calculations. It is statistically an outlier.”

Benaulim MLA Venzy Veigas said that the government is not interested in making it mandatory for industries to employ 80 per cent Goans.  (KNN Bureau)