Lifeguards in Goa on strike, ESMA invoked

Lifeguards in Goa on Tuesday began an indefinite strike seeking regularisation of their jobs, prompting the state government to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against them.

The government issued a notification Tuesday evening stating that lifeguarding and water safety services on the beaches and the inland water bodies are essential services under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988. Surprisingly, the imposition of ESMA came despite state tourism minister Dilip Parulekar’s assurance that he would meet the striking lifeguards to find a solution.

Reacting to the development, Christopher Fonseca, general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC-Goa), said the invocation of ESMA would not make any difference to the striking lifeguards.

“We are not government employees and hence we are not affected or impacted by ESMA. Let the government regularise us first and then think of invoking ESMA,” he said.

Fonseca said the lifeguards were on a “satyagraha” and not strictly on a strike per se, and ESMA is not applicable to them. “We are on a satyagraha. This is not strictly a strike. We are only resorting to Gandhian methods of protest,” he said, adding that government is “hiding” behind such acts to cover up its “cowardice”.

Fonseca said the strike was completely legal as the lifeguards had given a notice to this effect to government.

Earlier in the day, around 650 lifeguards didn’t report to their posts during the peak season, inconveniencing tourists, and launched a protest here seeking regularisation of their services, besides higher pay and life insurance.