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Indian port workers to go on strike to require much better salaries, advantages

A group of Indian port workers' unions has called for a strike from Aug. 28 to demand immediate settlement of pay revisions and pension advantages, according to a note signed by its members.

A strike by India's port employees could intensify the existing congestion issues at Asian and European ports, leading to further delayed shipments, which have a global impact on trade and commerce.

The shipping ministry formed a bipartite wage settlement committee in March 2021, and the workers sent their demands 6 months later, ahead of the expiration of the previous arrangement in December of that year, according to the note.

Although the wage negotiation committee met 7 times, it stopped working to meet the port workers' demands, the note said.

The employees' group consented to require a strike after a. meeting this month in Thoothukudi, a port city in the southern. state of Tamil Nadu.

Around 20,000 workers belong to the group of port employees'. unions, and all of them would sign up with the strike, stated Sathya. Narayanan, a senior union member who sits on the board of the V. O. Chidambaranar Port Rely On Thoothukudi.

The immediate effect of the strike might not be grave, however. if it goes on for more than two to three days, the implications. would be serious, he said on Monday.

The government and port management need to think about needs. such as pay scale modifications, payment of arrears and protection. of leaving benefits to help avoid the strike, the workers' group. said in the note.

India's federal shipping ministry did not immediately. react to a request for comment.

The annual freight handling capacity of significant Indian ports. such as Chennai, Cochin and Mumbai amounted to 1.62 billion metric. tons, according to the shipping ministry.

In the fiscal year to March 31, 2024, India exported items. worth $437 billion, with imports approximated at $677 billion.

(source: Reuters)