Panaji, Aug 28: The Goa unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has demanded that Theatre Instructors employed under Goa Samagra Shiksha be granted pay equivalent to Theatre Art Teachers, alleging that employees performing substantially the same work are being paid vastly different salaries.

In a memorandum dated August 27 addressed to the Chief Secretary, CITU has invoked the principle of “equal pay for equal work” and alleged that the existing disparity raises issues under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

According to the memorandum, Theatre Art Teachers engaged on contract by the Art and Culture Department have been receiving around ₹47,500 per month, while Theatre Instructors recruited under Samagra Shiksha are paid ₹20,000 per month.

CITU claimed that despite the difference in remuneration, both categories are assigned to teach the Theatre Art component of Art Education to students from Standards V to X, following the same GSCERT textbooks in schools allotted to them across Goa.

The union further pointed out that the educational qualification prescribed for Theatre Instructors includes a bachelor’s degree in the relevant discipline, besides knowledge of Konkani, while knowledge of Marathi is desirable.

Official recruitment instructions for Goa Samagra Shiksha have also specified a consolidated remuneration of ₹20,000 per month for instructors.

‘Same work, less than half the salary’

CITU highlighted the case of an individual who, according to its memorandum, earlier worked as a contractual Theatre Art Teacher drawing ₹47,500 per month in 2024-25, but is now working as a Theatre Instructor for ₹20,000 while allegedly performing the same nature of work.

Calling the situation arbitrary, the union referred to Supreme Court judgments concerning equality and the principle of equal pay for equal work.

The memorandum also alleged that Theatre Instructors have faced delays in receiving their salaries, sometimes for several months. Salary delays among Goa Samagra Shiksha contractual employees have been reported separately this year. In May, around 200 staff were reported to be awaiting salaries for March and April, while another report in July highlighted complaints of pending salaries of Art Education, Physical Education and Work Education instructors.

CITU said the issue may not be restricted to Theatre Instructors and called for scrutiny of the remuneration paid to instructors teaching Fine Art, Indian Classical Music, Western Music and Indian Classical Dance under Samagra Shiksha.

The union has placed three principal demands before the government: Theatre Instructors should receive a pay scale equivalent to Theatre Art Teachers; the revised pay should be implemented retrospectively from their first day of employment with arrears calculated and paid; and the principle of equal pay for equal work should be extended to other instructors employed under Samagra Shiksha in Goa.

CITU warned that if the government fails to rectify the alleged disparity at the earliest, it would be compelled to consider appropriate legal action.

The memorandum has been signed by CITU Goa General Secretary Nilkanth Phadte, President Nilesh Naik and Joint Secretary Narayan Kharade. Copies have also been forwarded to the Chief Minister, Education Secretary, Labour and Employment Minister, Labour Secretary, Leader of Opposition, Art and Culture Minister and Art and Culture Secretary.