The Hindu Business Line : KCCI for comprehensive policy on port labour

This policy, according to KCCI, should ensure fair remuneration and legitimate social welfare benefits apart from paying `due consideration' to `incentives and motivational payments'.

In a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Labour, the KCCI President, Mr G. Giridhar Prabhu, has sought a `national discussion, debate and dialogue' to evolve a `suitable' labour policy. `Direct employment and improvement in jobs and income come from development in external trade' and therefore, a `small section of labour' should not be allowed to hold the entire nation to ransom, KCCI said.

In its letter, dealing primarily with labour issues in the country's ports and the impact of these problems on external trade, KCCI has claimed that the country has suffered from several labour problems in the ports. Importers and exporters have been treated `very badly' in terms of the `competitiveness of port infrastructure'. KCCI has asked the Ministry of Labour to pay attention to these issues within the framework of the recommendations of the Second Labour Commission.

The chamber suggested that the port management be totally divested of direct involvement with cargo-handling labour. Stevedores have the `necessary skills' to handle labour `efficiently'.

In another letter, also to the Ministry of Labour, KCCI has sought review of the policy governing the deduction of employees' provident fund to restore a uniform deduction of 10 per cent without any exceptions.

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