Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) on Wednesday said it would consider reinstating the terminated workers at Haldia port on condition of additional cargo offering by Kolkata Port Trust to help minimize its losses.

The ABG-LDA operated private cargo handler laid off 275 workers to “right-size its workforce” at the mechanised berths at Haldia dock complex on September 24. HBT had earlier complained that it was forced by trade unions to induct 650 employees in excess of their requirement at Haldia (2 and 8 berths).

A three-member committee comprising officials of the Kolkata Port Trust on Monday recommended “reinstatement of the terminated workers by HBT” as one of the possible solutions to the ongoing crisis at Haldia port.

In a statement, Gurpreet Malhi, Chief Executive Officer of HBT, said, “If KoPT gives us additional work backed by suitable guarantees under the legal framework… to meet the recurring expenditure of their salary and wages, we shall consider reinstating them.”

Malhi pointed out that KoPT had “unilaterally” drawn up the set of recommendations, “reflecting only the views of KoPT and other stakeholders and not those of HBT”. According to him, the “proposed solutions” would require detailed assessment. “Such recommendations… need detailed assessment internally before any decision can be arrived upon,” he said.

Manish Jain, chairman-in-charge, KoPT, said, "HBT has not sent us a written response to the recommendations proposed by KoPT. It is high time that everybody (all the stakeholders) come forward to cooperate."

>ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

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