Basic pension hiked 5.69% for retirees of major ports

Government has increased the basic pension by 5.69 per cent in certain grades for retired employees of major ports.
"In a major relief to the Group 'C' and 'D' retirees of Major Port Trusts & Dock Labour Board, the Ministry of Shipping has approved the increase in the basic pension by 5.69 per cent," Ministry of Shipping said in a statement.
The benefits will be given to the employees who had retired between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2011, it said.
"This decision has fulfilled the long standing demand of various labour federations and retirees for enhancing the basic pension by 5.69 per cent and allowing the dearness relief on such enhanced pension which was not available earlier," it said.

India has 12 major ports -- Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) which handle approximately 61 per cent of the country's total cargo traffic.