Panaji: Fulfilling a promise made in the Budget Speech 2025-26, the Goa Cabinet has approved a major welfare scheme titled “Grant of Temporary Status to Daily Wage Workers”, set to benefit around 3,000 employees across various government Departments, Corporations, Autonomous Bodies, and Local Bodies.
Under the scheme, all daily wage workers who have completed more than 7 years of service will be granted Temporary Status, entitling them to several benefits including higher monthly remuneration, leave benefits, and EPF contributions.
As per the government briefing, the revised remuneration will be applicable prospectively from 1st August 2025. However, for the purpose of pay fixation, 7 years of completed service will be counted notionally, and employees will receive an annual increment of 3% thereafter.
Revised Pay Structure:
Cleaners, Helpers, Labourers, Guards, Watchmen, MTS, and equivalent staff will receive:
Gross Pay: ₹21,800
Net Pay: ₹20,000 (after EPF deduction)
Employer EPF: ₹1,950
Employee EPF: ₹1,800
Clerical Staff, Drivers, Electricians, Wiremen, Masons, Painters, Plumbers, Operators, and similar posts will receive:
Gross Pay: ₹26,800
Net Pay: ₹25,000 (after EPF deduction)
Currently, daily wage labourers earn about ₹12,818 per month. Under the new scheme, a worker completing 7 years will receive ₹20,000 net pay – reflecting a 52% increase in take-home salary.
Moreover, if a worker completed 7 years of service in 2020, their notional pay will be fixed from 2020 at ₹20,000 with annual increments of 3%. By August 2025, they will receive ₹23,185 per month.
Additional Benefits:
Leave Entitlements:
1 day Casual Leave for every 15 days worked
15 days Sick Leave per year (up to 60 days)
Maternity leave as per the Maternity Benefit Act
Mandatory Enrollments:
Atal Pension Yojana
PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
PM Suraksha Bima Yojana
Eligible employees will have to submit an undertaking to their Head of Department (HoD), post which verification and formal orders will be issued.
The Cabinet has also made it clear that going forward, no fresh appointments of daily wage or NMR staff will be allowed. All such recruitments must go through the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC) and any deviation will be deemed null and void.
The scheme is expected to incur an additional annual liability of ₹4 crore to the state exchequer.
This move aims to bring dignity, financial security, and formal employment benefits to thousands of daily wage earners who have long served without social protection.
