The port and dock workers in the country are gearing up for an industrial action in protest against amending existing labour laws to enable corporatisation of major ports.

The date for industrial action will be decided after a joint meeting with other five federations of port and dock workers to be held in Mumbai on January 28 and 29, P.M. Mohammed Haneef, general secretary, All India Port & Dock Workers Federation said.

Expressing concern over the move to corporatise major ports under the guise of infrastructure development and by handing it over to MNC’s, he said it would adversely affect the survival of several thousands of port and dock workers and pensioners. The proposed corporatisation, according to him, may sooner or later lead to privatisation.

The working committee of the federation, which held in Tuticorin, has decided to support all the decisions of the central organisations against the unilateral and anti labour enactments by the government. It also urged the Ministry to extend necessary financial assistance and support to the cash trapped Cochin Port Trust.

S.R.Kulkarni, President of the federation requested the government to desist from the move to corporatise major ports and initiate steps to resolve the issues being confronted by the ports and its workers particularly.

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