AGENCIES|NEW DELHI

Chowgule and Company Private Ltd, has sought permission from the Ministry of Labour and Employment to lay off 347 permanent employees in the state.

“Chowgule and Company Private Ltd has filed an application under the section 25 N of Industrial and Disputes Act 1947 in the Ministry of Labour and Employment for retrenchment of 347 permanent employees,” president of Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), Puti Goankar, told reporters after the first hearing of the matter at the ministry here.

There will be two more hearings tomorrow and day after, he said.

This is for the first time that a mining company in Goa has filed an application seeking permission from the government for laying off of permanent employees in the state where mining operations are stalled following a Supreme Court order.

Goankar said he is hopeful that a decision will come in favour of the workers.  “In our response we have urged the ministry to take immediate steps to commence mining operations in Goa as this is necessary to save the livelihood of nearly a lakh of people depending on this industry,” said Gaonkar.

Gaonkar also informed that considering the seriousness of the situation in Goa, state chief minister Manohar Parrikar will be meeting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this week to discuss the issue of ban on mining in Goa.