Date:23/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/23/stories/2005092300700700.htm

Back Draft Maritime Policy draws flak from unions

V. Sajeev Kumar

However, the revised draft is not significantly different. The meeting concluded with the note that further discussions are necessary.

Kochi , Sept. 22

THE Water Transport Workers Federation of India has opposed some of the objectives of the draft maritime policy prepared by the Union Shipping Ministry for the development of the port sector. . (It is one of the five major federations representing port and dock workers in the country).

The federation sent a note of caution to the Ministry on some of the intentions in the policy such as curbing monopoly and encouraging competition, which it feels are unlikely to be realised.

The President of the Federation, Mr M. M. Lawrence, who attended the meeting convened by the Ministry to discuss the policy in New Delhi with five major federations last week, said that the objective of the maritime policy is the large scale induction of private sector in ports.

The union would strongly oppose it, as it would weaken the country's sovereignty and independence.

He pointed out that large scale private investment is not the norm in advanced maritime nations. The opposition mainly comes from the US for opening up its maritime sector for free trade.

Welcoming some of the suggestions in the policy, Mr Lawrence said that there is no perspective for generating more employment in the maritime policy and vacancies are not being filled.

It would pave for contract labour and the liberal outsourcing of work. All of these are anti-labour policies and are detrimental to the interests of workers, he added.

The policy, he said, is in no way different from what is being pursued since 1993.

He alleged that a well-entrenched shipping line has already cornered the major container port facilities in Indian ports and the facilities have become captive facilities of the carriers. The Shipping Secretary, Mr D.T. Joseph, had chaired the meeting convened by the Shipping Ministry to discuss the draft maritime policy with the major federations of port and dock workersrecently.

Mr Subash Chackraborty, General Secretary of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, also participated in the discussion. .

The federation had earlier sent detailed comments on the first draft of maritime policy. However, the revised draft is not significantly different.

The meeting concluded with the note that further discussions are necessary.

The federations had also agreed to furnish comments and suggestions for the Draft Maritime Policy.