Panel to take up demand on port workers' retirement

The shipping ministry seems to be pulling in opposite directions simultaneously while responding to key demands of port and dock workers' federations.

The ministry has decided to take up the workers' demand to extend the retirement age from 58 to 60 years and also offer a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) which would be launched in May.

There are more than 60,000 workers at the major ports across the country. Port and dock workers at Vishakhapatnam, Cochin and JNPT have been demanding an increase in the retirement age.

Sources say the proposal to extend the retirement age was discussed at a meeting of top officials last week. The ministry has now set up a committee of senior officers to study the demand which was put forth by the five major ports' worker federations.

The Indian Ports Association (IPA) has been made an advisor to the expert committee studying the issue. The IPA will also counsel the committee on other aspects like increasing worker satisfaction and enhancing productivity in ports across India.

A set of incentives-for-productivity schemes were proposed during the meeting of senior officers. Ministry officials said VRS had been offered on earlier occasions too and this was not linked to the issue of extending the age of retirement.