The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : "Privatisation deprives port workers of their rights"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 19, 2006
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

"Privatisation deprives port workers of their rights"

Staff Reporter

"Retired and old-aged crew are being hired"

CHENNAI: A frontline body of the major port's workforce, affiliated to the All-India Trade Union Congress, on Wednesday said port and dockworkers were losing their legitimate employment opportunities and jobs as a result of privatisation.

Citing partial privatisation of pilotage services in many of the 11 major ports, including in Chennai, Port, Dock and Water Front Workers Federation of India president P. Krishnaiah said this led to hiring of retired and old-aged crew in place of aspiring marine crew.

He was addressing journalists here with other leaders of the federation, including vice-president and former Member of Parliament D. Pandian after a meeting of the office-bearers.

Though the cargo traffic had increased substantially over the last five years, there was recruitment in any major port. Several hundred dependents of port and dockworkers, who died in harness, were waiting for jobs on compassionate grounds. The federation, however, was not opposed to all kinds of privatisation, but only against, what he called, reckless privatisation.

The meeting, attended by senior vice-president V.K. Balakrishnan, stressed the need for early implementation of an agreement between the ports' labour and managements, under which the workers would be paid 20 per cent productivity linked reward in lieu of bonus.

The federation also wanted the retirement age increased from 58 to 60 years, merger of 50 per cent dearness allowance with the basic pay, enhanced security check of the cargo and development of a common high quality medical centre each on the west and east coast for retired and serving workers.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu