Operations at the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) at Cochin port came to a halt on Friday as workers of various trade unions went on a strike. Container movement at the terminal has been stopped as workers of trailer trucks too joined the strike.
A coordination committee of various trade unions had struck work a few days ago demanding job protection for workers of the terminal. They alleged that they would be deprived of work once the terminal operation is shifted to the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam. ICTT will be dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on February 11.
Meanwhile, Kochi-based exporters have expressed serious concern over the stoppage of work as a large number of containers are stocked at the terminal. Seafood exporters may suffer huge losses if power supply to reefer containers stops.
The Seafood Exporters Association of India today approached the Kerala High Court seeking safety and regular supply of power to their consignments at the yard. Port sources said thousands of containers were now stocked at the terminal.
The Cochin Port Trust (CPT) has, however, clarified in a release that the port has entered into a concession agreement with Dubai Ports World (DPW), the operators of ICTT. Under this, it has been agreed that the port will not run any another container terminal until ICTT reaches an annual throughput of 25,00,000 TEUs.
The only exception made is for Defence and combi vessels, which do not account for more than 50 containers in a year. Though the port trust held several rounds of discussions with DPW for handling coastal container ships at RGCT, the company did not agree.
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The port management and the employee unions had got into an understanding during signing of the concession agreement that all employees of CPT would be fully protected.
The loss of employment may happen only in the case of about 70 workers who are engaged by stevedores/steamer agents for lashing and unlashing work. On the other hand, thousands of jobs would be created at Vallarpadam, the CPT release said.