The Hindu Business Line : Govt agrees to raise retirement age of port & dock workers

New Delhi/Kochi, Sept. 12 The retirement age of port and dock workers at all the major ports would increase by two years to 60 years with effect from October 1, 2007. However, this is subject to the port and dock workers withdrawing their proposed strike from September 21.

This was decided in a meeting held between unions of port and dock workers with the Shipping Ministry. Major ports are those ports that are under the Union Government’s jurisdiction.

“The Department of Shipping has provided several assurances to the workers including an increase in retirement age provided we withdraw the notice to go on strike from September 21,” Mr SR Kulkarni, President, All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation told Business Line. The workers would also have to withdraw two references to the Chief Labour Commissioner on the issue.

Interim relief

On the port workers demand for a Rs 1,000 per month interim relief (with effect from January 1, 2007) till the wages are revised, the Ministry has agreed to form a bi-partite wage negotiation committee. The unions have been demanding a monthly interim relief of Rs 1000 till a new wage settlement is signed.

“On our demand to merge the dearness allowance with basic pay, the Ministry has said that it would further pursue the matter with Finance Ministry since it is under the Finance Ministry’s consideration at present,” said Mr PM Mohammed Haneef, General Secretary of All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation.

Committee to be formed

The Ministry has also agreed to form a Committee to realistically assess vacancies in ports and consider the demand regarding regularisation of contract workers in ports and docks. “The Committee would have to give its report by October 31, 2007,” Mr Haneef said.

The port and dock workers had threatened to go on strike from September 21 provided the above mentioned demands were not met. The unions are Water Transport Workers’ Federation of India, All India Port and Dock Workers Federation, All India Port and Dock Workers Federation (Workers), Port, Dock and Water Front Workers Federation and Indian National Port and Dock Workers Federation.

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