The State Government of Goa has declared paid holidays for all employees working in the government departments and private establishments for the next three days, till midnight of March 25, 2020. The holiday has been declared to ensure effective implementation of the Janata Curfew and contain the spread of the virus. A circular has been issued to this effect on March 22.
The leave do not apply to employees and entities engaged in providing essential services to the public. Such people have been urged to take required measures to curb the spread of the virus.
According to the notification, the paid holiday is applicable to all government departments, industrial workers and semi-government establishments, in addition to daily wage workers of the government and private establishments, as well as commercial and industrial establishment employees in the private sector.
Goa has also put a stop to the movement of inter-state passenger vehicles from March 21, till further notice, as yet another preventive measure.
In the wake of the extended curfew, a delegation of industrial officials met the chief minister at his residence, requesting him to resume work with minimum 20 per cent employee capacity. The delegation comprised representatives of the Goa chapter of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Goa Small Industries Association and the Confederation of Indian Industries, among others.
The delegation also requested that the pharmaceutical sector be exempt from the shutdown. In order to facilitate work and keep the show going, resumption of skeletal services is essential.
