Port Blair, July 09: The INTUC President Kuldeep Rai Sharma along with a delegation of seamen employed in the inter islands vessels owned by AN Administration met the Chief Secretary Mr. Anand Prakash recently in connection with the grievances of Home Trade seamen.
Sharma has briefed of the suffering and hardship being faced by 150 odd Home Trade seamen employed on board inter-island vessels owned by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration due to non increase of their wages since 31.03.2006.
Sharma has also stated that as per the governing terms and conditions of employments, these seamen under the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 are paid wages on the basis of Memorandum of Agreement executed between the Employer (DSS, A&N Administration) and the Seamen Union.
The wages so arrived is applicable for a period of two years. The revision of wages was last done vide Memorandum of Agreement dated 12.04.2007 and was applicable up to 31.03.2006. Since then there has been no increase in wages of these seamen due to non execution of the revised Memorandum of the Wage Agreement.
Batting for the seamen Sharma briefed that due to non enhancement of wages for over 7(seven) years, these seamen are facing acute financial crunch to meet the living expenses of their dependent family members because of high cost of living in these Islands coupled with countrywide steep rise in price index witnessed in recent past.
Nevertheless, the Union and the Employer (DSS) has come to an understanding regarding the quantum of revision in wages for the block years 2006-08, 2008-10 & 2010-12 and have submitted the proposal for revision of wages to the A&N Administration for its approval which is awaited since quite some time. Sharma has thus requested the Chief Secretary to bestow personal intervention in the subject matter, so that these aggrieved seamen can find relieve at an early date by way of revision in their wages which is due for over 7(seven) years. The Director Shipping Services, AN Administration was also present in the meeting. The Chief Secretary has assured for early settlement of the grievances of the inter island home trade seamen.
