State to withdraw bill that fined private companies not notifying vacancies

Panaji: State govt has decided to withdraw the Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the upcoming budget session of the assembly.

The bill, which was passed in last year, imposed fines on private companies if they failed to advertise vacancies in Goa. The amendment also sought to gather information about jobs likely to be created in the next six months.The employment exchanges are established under the all India scheme for discharging the functions, duties and responsibilities as envisaged in the National Employment Exchange service manual.The employment exchange does not create or provide jobs but serves as a link between job seekers and employers. The major activity of the employment exchange is centred on registrations of job seekers and submission of names to employers in both public and private sectors as per their requirements against the notified vacancies. Apart from this, the employment exchange also provides employment assistance for job seekers and candidates.

The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959, was enacted on the recommendations of the training and employment services organisation committee in 1952 to provide for compulsory notification of vacancies to the employment exchanges.The act applies to every establishment where ordinarily 25 or more persons are employed to work for remuneration. The regional employment exchange accordingly sponsors the names of the candidates from the live register of candidates, who enrolled themselves in employment exchanges, to those establishments that notify their vacancies.“The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2025, was examined in consultation with the nodal Union ministries/departments, including the ministry of labour and employment,” labour secretary Sandip Jacques said.He said that central govt brought the Code on Social Security, 2020, into force from Nov 21, 2025. “By virtue of a section of the code, the Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959, stands repealed with effect from the said date.

Hence, state govt is directed to withdraw the said bill at the earliest,” Jacques said.With the amendment, govt proposed to increase the fine amount to between Rs 5,000 and Rs 30,000, depending on the number of employees and the number of violations by private companies if they failed to advertise vacancies in the state. Previously, there was only a Rs 500 fine on private companies, and there were no categories.