The Hindu Business Line : Call to protest against privatisation of ports

THE Water Transport Workers' Federation of India has called upon the port and dockworkers in the country to prepare for a countrywide protest action against the proposed move of the Union Government to indiscriminately privatise major ports.

The working committee meeting of the federation which was held in Kochi, was of the view that the Centre was moving ahead with the privatisation process by surrendering all the existing facilities in the port sector to foreign monopolies.

Instead of utilising the existing capacities of the Indian ports, the meeting pointed out that the Government was in the process of giving away terminal operations on BOT basis to multinational companies as well as setting up parallel ports in the private sector in order to make the existing major ports less viable.

The Federation President, Mr M.M. Lawrence, and the General Secretary, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, said that the declaration that `by 2012 Indian ports will be privatised' is an announcement that will have far-reaching consequences.

Wage revision: The working committee meeting had also decided to prepare a demand charter for revised wages as the five-year period of the present wage agreement would expire shortly.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
AI not to extend wet lease on aircraft from Jet Airways

KLM to launch daily flights to Bangalore

KLM to start services between Amsterdam and Hyderabad

Renovated Mumbai airport terminal to be commissioned tomorrow

Call to protest against privatisation of ports