Ports, dockyard workers reach wage settlement

PANAJI - The Indian Ports Association (IPA), an organisation of the major ports of the country, and five federations representing more than half the dockyard workforce reached a wage settlement here Tuesday with retrospective effect from 2007.

However, the All India Port and Dock Workers Federation, which claims membership of nearly 40 percent of the 60,000 dockyard workers at India’s 12 major ports, refused to be a signatory over a promotional benefit dispute.

The accord was worked out by the bipartite wage negotiation committee constituted by the central government.

According to IPA chairman S.S. Hussein, the wage settlement is valid till 2012.

“The additional aggregate financial implication for the 12 major ports may be around Rs.450 crore per annum,” Hussein told reporters after the talks, adding that wages would rise by nearly 40 percent.

But P.M. Mohammad Haneef, general secretary of the All India Port and Dock Workers Federation, said the pact was fraudulently pushed through in contravention of rules.

“The deputy chief central labour commissioner signed the documents even before the agreement was reached. The agreement will only result in delayed benefits and lower promotional benefits,” he said.

His federation would now take up the matter with the chief central labour commissioner, whose office regulates issues related to dockyard workers, including wages, Haneef said.

–Indo Asian News Service