New productivity linked reward for port and dock workers

New Delhi, Apr 10 (UNI) As many as 66,000 port and dock workers will benefit from a new productivity linked reward scheme, an agreement for which was signed here today, settling a long-pending issue.

The Productivity Linked Reward(PLR) will be paid annually on the basis of the productivity and performance of the major ports on three parameters viz. average turn round time of ships, average ship berth day output and unit cost of handling.

The new scheme, which will be applicable from the year 2002-03 onwards and will remain operative upto the year 2009-10, also envisages the payment of the difference between the PLR payable and the adhoc PLR paid for the years 2002 to 2006.

The agreement to give effect to the scheme, was signed between the Federations of Port and Dock Workers and the Management in the presence of Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu.

With the signing of the settlement, the way has been paved for joint withdrawal of reference from the National Industrial Tribunal. The reference was made to the National Industrial Tribunal, Mumbai through Ministry of Labour.

Mr N K Raghupati, Vice Chairman of Indian Ports Association alongwith the Chairmen of Major Port Trusts signed the agreement on behalf of the Management while leaders of five major federations signed on behalf of the employees.

Mr Baalu hoped the new agreement would pave the way for further improving the efficiency of major ports and would help in achieving higher productivity.

Mr A K Mohapatra, Secretary, Shipping was also present on the occasion.

Mr Baalu has already approved the release of the PLR arrears to the approximately 66,000 port and dock employees and workers. The expenditure, to be incurred for this payment of arrears, is likely to be to the tune of Rs 31 crore.

UNI