Goan youth paid peanuts in film and Tv jobs, GFTAAW demands at par payments

PANJIM: The Goa Film, TV Artistes and Allied Workers Forum (GFTAAW) has expressed its concern and disappointment over the fact that Goan youth, artistes and film workers (like makeup artists, spot boys, technicians, etc) are not given proper representation and jobs in film shoots happening in the State.

“Every day there are film shoots happening in Goa, but our youth are not paid properly. They are made to work 10-12 hour shifts and paid only for 8-hour shift,” said Alok Fernandes – a camera technician from Curchorem.

Speaking about the problem, Flynn Remedios of GFTAAW said, “In the last one year, several major film and Tv serial shoots have taken place in Goa — in all these projects it was reported that even ‘junior artistes’ and other film industry workers like light men, technicians, spot boys, makeup artists, even catering staff, etc were brought in from Mumbai. Other States like Uttar Pradesh have rules wherein for any shooting taking place in the State, all Grade 3 and Grade 4 staff has to be selected from within the State only, thus providing employment to the locals.”

“In Goa, the production houses have an easy excuse — Goan film staff and workers do not have association cards like that of CINTAA etc. and hence it’s not possible to employ them. We demand that the State government makes it mandatory that film-makers shooting in the State should hire technicians, junior artistes, spot boys, drivers, set-workers, makeup and hair professionals etc from the State itself and should not import them from Mumbai,” he added.

“Goan youth are jobless. Goan artists and film industry workers do not have a source of income. And we are importing people from Mumbai to work in the State, which is deplorable,” Remedios opined.

The GFTAAW has said that its members will agitate and not allow film shoots to take place in Goa if the production houses do not employ local Goan youth. In Mumbai, the Shiv Sena Film Workers Union and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Union does not allow shoots if locals are not employed.

“We are going to do the same in Goa from now on,” Remedios asserted, adding that we do not intend to disrupt shoots or send a wrong message to Bollywood, but film-makers, production houses, EPs and line-producers must understand that Goan youth must be given employment in film shoots taking place in the State. Everyone, including Goan youth have a right to earn a livelihood and not just workers residing in Mumbai.