| Code: 105219 |

Impasse over cargo handling continues

TIN news:    The meeting called by the Kerala Head-load Workers Welfare Board on Saturday, for settling issues related to handling of cars arrived at the port in a cargo ship, concluded without taking any decision. Representatives of the Cochin Port Trust had stayed away from the meeting. The Welfare Board authorities are of the view that the workers required for unloading cars from the ship should be hired through the Board, which is the authorised agency to supply workers at the port. Car carrier MV Dresden, operated by Chennai-based SICAL Logistics, had called at the port twice with cars to be delivered to automobile dealers in the State.
The ship is conducting service in the Ennore-Cochin-Kandla-Cochin-Ennore circuit, connecting automobile production hubs in Tamil Nadu in the East coast and Gujarat and Haryana in the West coast of India.
On both occasions, unloading of cars was carried out without any interruption. However, the port authorities and the shipping agent has not addressed the grievances of the Board. Though those who carried out the unloading work are registered labourers of the Board, they were hired bypassing it,” said Head-load Workers Welfare Board – Cochin Port Trust Area Committee – chief Mahesh Pai. “It may be noted that it was the Port Trust that took the initiative to form the Board, with the aim of ensuring smooth handling of cargo,” he said.
“Though the board had deputed 36 labourers when the ship arrived the other day, the shipping agency did not utilise their service. They were skilled labourers experienced in driving and lashing,” added Pai.

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