PANAJI: In view of a written assurance by the government that it will complete the report as regards upgrading the pay scales to all the left out categories of the government employees by August 31, the Goa Government Employees Association on Saturday said that it has decided to suspend the proposed indefinite pen-down-tool-down strike, scheduled to be held from August 2.

The GGEA president, Mr M L Shetkar, addressing a press conference said that the association had given the strike notice to the government in view of settling its demand of upgradation of pay scales to all the left out categories of the government employees by August 1, and if the government failed to fulfil the same, the strike would be held from August 2.

The GGEA general secretary, Mr John Nazareth was also present for the briefing.

Speaking further, Mr Shetkar said that all the taluka committee of the GGEA had geared up to participate in the strike; however, the Chief Secretary, Mr Sanjay Srivastava appealed to the association to suspend the proposed strike, as the government needed some time to complete the report, in order to arrive at a permanent solution to the problem as regards selective upgradation of pay scales.

It was also informed that the accounts department had worked out arrears to the left out categories of the government employees, to the tune of Rs 83 crore.

"There are at least 20,000 to 25,000 government employees from Group C and D, who are in the left out category," Mr Shetkar added.