960409

Business or share workforce cost

PQA turns down cargo

handlers' plea

MUZAFFAR QURESHI

KARACHI: The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has rejected the plea made by the cargo handling companies to either provide them sufficient business or share the increased cost of wages of the 1757 port workers.

The differences, as to who should bear the responsibility for the huge force of port workers rendered surplus due to reduction in number of berths from seven to two, emerged following the submission of a new charter of demand by the workers. Among other benefits the port workers have demanded a fixed salary of Rs 3000 P.M.

Responding to the telex message of cargo handlers, the PQA described their claim that 1757 workers were originally registered by the Authority for the entire port, as totally incorrect and baseless. It said that the workers were employed by the cargo handling companies and were governed by the Industrial Relations Ordinance 1969. The PQA had only countersigned entry cards issued to them by the companies to facilitate their entry in the port area.

The PQA advised the cargo handlers to refrain from shifting their responsibility for workers to the Authority and negotiate the charter of demand with the CBA to reach an amicable solution as had been done in the past.

A spokesman of the cargo handling companies, five in number, told Business Recorder that there was only one cargo handling company when the port started operations which issued identity cards to workers countersigned by the PQA. Moreover, there were seven berths available to the single cargo handler. The number of berths had now been reduced to two by the PQA by allocating three berths for the container terminal and two berths for oil.

He said that the cargo handling companies were hitherto bearing the wages of the port workers as sufficient business was available on seven berths in operation. But with the reduction of berths business had been considerably reduced.

He pointed out that the wages and benefits of workers at the Karachi Port were shared by the KPT, ship agents and stevedores. A similar cost sharing arrangements should be made for Port Qasim.