Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Approves Wage Structure Revision for Major Port Workers
Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Secures Groundbreaking Agreement to Avert Indefinite Strike
In a significant development, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, has approved a critical revision in the wage structure for workers at India’s major ports. This move comes after the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) and the Indian Port Association (IPA), which averted a looming indefinite strike that threatened to disrupt operations at 12 major ports across the country.
The agreement marks a historic breakthrough, ensuring an 8.5% fitment benefit on the aggregate amount of basic pay as of December 31, 2021, plus 30% Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) as of January 1, 2022. The new pay scales will be effective retroactively from January 1, 2022, with the settlement period extending to December 31, 2026. This revision addresses not only wage structures but also pensionary benefits, providing a comprehensive improvement in the service conditions for port workers.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, commenting on the successful resolution, stated, “This agreement marks a significant step forward in ensuring fair and equitable treatment for our port workers, who are the backbone of the Indian maritime sector. The timely resolution of these issues reflects the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways’ commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive working environment across all Indian ports.”
In addition to the wage revision, a special allowance of Rs. 500 per month will be granted to employees during the operative period of the settlement. Both parties have also agreed to consider synchronizing the periodicity of future wage revisions for both officers and employees, starting from January 1, 2027, to prevent potential anomalies.
A drafting committee meeting is scheduled for August 28, 2024, to finalize the settlement within ten days. This committee will include representatives from each workers’ federation and management representatives appointed by the Chairman of IPA. The management has assured that the BWNC proceedings will be concluded, with a final settlement reached within 15 days.
In light of this positive development, the six workers’ federations have unanimously decided to defer the strike that was previously planned for August 28, 2024. They have also expressed their gratitude to Shri Sarbananda Sonowal for his timely intervention and continuous guidance throughout the negotiation process.