Mangaluru: The All India Central Council of Trade Union (AICCTU) and All India Port Workers Federation (AIPWF) jointly staged a protest in front of the DC office here on January 27. Prior to the protest, a rally was held from the Government Wenlock Hospital which culminated in front of the DC office.
Addressing the protesters National Vice President of AICCTU Shankar said, “We have given a call for protest of the shipping company workers on January 29. The NMPT is not following the labour laws and the labourers do not get any benefits. There is no time limit for work, they need to work for 12 to 24 hours. They do not get the mandatory ESI facilities and Provident Fund. We demand to strictly implement the labour laws in NMPT as it is under the central government.”
Shanker further said, “NMPT should follow government labour laws and follow the 8 hours working day rule according to the law. They should get minimum wages according to the central government rules and overtime for extended hours of duty. When we approached the NMPT chairman he said that the labourers issues are not related to him. Since there is no legal remedy available for issues related the labourers we have decided to hold a protest on January 29. We seek the support of the public in providing justice for the Shipping companies workers in Mangaluru.”
Speaking to mangalorean.com Vidya Dinaker said, “The shipping company workers do not get PF and ESI. I request all Mangaloreans to join hands with the port labourers who are fighting for their rights. The shipping company owners are exploiting their own workers. We demand the Deputy Commissioner to convene a meeting immediately with the chairman of NMPT and owners all the shipping companies. Even though we have been fighting for the rights of the workers from the past 2 years until now the NMPT has not taken the matter seriously. The concerned authorities are acting as agents of private shipping companies. I think the central government, state government and the Deputy Commissioner of Mangaluru should take serious cognizance of this issue and set things right”.
State Secretary Appanna, District AICCTU president Satish Kumar, Diwakar, Bharat Amin, Mohan, Lokesh, Harish Bantwal, Narayan, Vishwanath, Naveen, Shekhar and others were also present.