From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jan 19: The Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) constituted by the Ministry of Shipping under the Chairmanship of Chairman- Indian Ports Association (IPA) having as its members the Chairmen of 7 Major Port Trusts and the Managing Director, Indian Ports Association representing the Management sides and also members of the Five Federations representing the workers, signed a land mark wage settlement on 19.01.2010 at Goa in the presence of Chief Labour Commissioner. The Class III and Class IV employees of the Port and the Dock workers of the 12 Major Port Trusts will get the benefits of revision of their wages, allowances and other remunerations w.e.f. 01.01.2007. The wage settlement is for a period of 5 years commencing from 01.01.2007 to 31.12. 2011. The additional aggregate financial implication for all the 12 Major Ports may be around Rs.450 crores per annum.
The deadlock between the Management and the Federations as regards periodicity of settlement and the percentage of fitment, which had delayed the settlement for 3 years, was amicably resolved only with the intervention of the Hon’ble Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan and Secretary (Shipping). Even the major issue of the effective date of revision of allowances was settled harmoniously by the Hon’ble Minister of Shipping, after due consideration of the representations of the Workers Federations.
The Port and Dock employees will get the fitment benefit of 23% on the basic pay as on 31.12.06 and Variable Dearness Allowance upto AICPI 2884 points base year of 1960. The arrears on account of the revision of wages, allowances and other remuneration shall be paid retrospectively from 01.01.2007 and disbursed within 2 months of signing of the settlement. The Port employees shall also get the benefit of Port allowance, transport reimbursement, children’s education allowance, reimbursement of tuition fees, reimbursement of washing allowance and night weightage etc. The employees are assured of career progression on completion of 10 years as against 12 years.
Since the Port employees and Dock labour get the benefits and family pension in line with Central Government employees, the Pension has also been revised w.e.f. 01.01.2007 for the Port Pensioners with the fitment of 23% on Pension and Dearness relief upto AICPI 2884. The minimum pay scale of the Port workers in the revised scale shall be Rs.7,800/- with annual increment of 3% on the basic pay.