India: Streamline ports' HR

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

30 Jun 2009

The new Shipping Minister, as he settles into his job, will find his plate full. There are so many things to do but so little has been done. In addition to port projects and other proposals pending for a long time, several major issues on the HR front remain unresolved. For example, the issue of revision of wages and salaries of 61,000 port employees, including about 3,500 officers, has been hanging fire.
The revision became due on January 2007 but negotiations between the IPA and the unions have made little headway.
Another area of concern is the implementation of revised manning scales according to the recommendations of a national tribunal.
Only three ports have succeeded in implementing them; other ports seem to be making little effort to implement, fearing opposition from the unions.
Yet another area that deserves due attention is the cadre restructuring of port officers for uniformity in all ports, making inter-port transfer of officers easier. There is no comprehensive HR policy at the port. Promotions, increments and transfers are all at the whims of powers-that-be.

Source: The Hindu Business Line