Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Wednesday that Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC) will soon begin supplying locally trained workers to companies in the Verna industrial estate.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Goa Occupational Safety & Health Expo and Summit 2026 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Sawant said that GHRDC will issue job letters to 1,300 skilled Goans for positions across 25 companies in Verna. He urged other industrial estates to follow suit by prioritising the employment of workers trained within the state.
Addressing an audience of safety professionals, industry members and students, the Chief Minister said that industrial progress must be paired with worker safety. He said that protecting the trust workers place in their workplace is essential, stressing that every employee should return home safely at the end of the day.
He said that to reinforce this, the government plans to improve facilities for safety programmes.
He also said the government plans to extend awareness beyond factories to include schools and engineering colleges, focusing on electrical safety, fire prevention and mental health.
Minister for Factories & Boilers Nilkanth Halarnkar expressed hope that the summit would foster productive discussions on safety issues. This year’s expo features over 70 exhibitors showcasing safety appliances for the construction, manufacturing, tourism, healthcare and port sectors.
The event, organised by the Inspectorate of Factories & Boilers, serves as a platform for the industry to adopt more robust safety standards and modern protective technologies.
President of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Pratima Dhond announced that the chamber will soon launch sector-wise safety clinics and an online safety dashboard for companies. She urged the industry to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for hazard prediction, noting that occupational health has evolved from a matter of compliance to a fundamental necessity.
The inaugural session also featured remarks from Secretary of Factories & Boilers Sanjiv Gadkar and Chief Inspector Anant Pangam.
