FOC turn POC says ITF Chairman

Visakhapatnam, Dec 22 (UNI) The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Asia-Pacific region Chairman S R Kulkarni today said after the Flags Of Convenience (FOC) it was now the turn of Ports Of Convenience (POC) campaign of the ITF to facilitate improvement in the working conditions of port and dock workers and secure better wages to International Labour Organisation Standards.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Kulkarni said the ITF took the POC campaign to alleviate their plight, in addition to curb on ships that fly FOC to violate international maritime conventions.

Mr Kulkarni, who is also All India Port and Dock Workers Federation (APDWF) President warned of a strike by port and dock workers if their demands relating to payment of 20 per cent productivity linked bonus, merger of 50 per cent dearness allowance with the basic pay and restoration of retirement age to 60-years on a per with the Centre employees were not fulfilled.

ITF Deputy General Secretary Mahendra Sarma said workers in the maritime sector of not only our country but all countries were facing fresh challenges in the globalised scenario.

Mr Sarma said the 41st Congress of the ITF held at Durban in August, 2006, took stock of the impact of globalisation in transport sector. It was best to solve problems of workers by negotiating with the governments and stake-holders.

Mr Kulkarni said the government was not taking the workers into confidence while implementing the new economic policies.

He regretted that the Centre was going ahead with the policy of privatising the ports on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

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