The Goan: What is current situation at the Stevedore’sAssociation?
Vinod Parkkot: November 2012 has arrived with a big questionmark on the future our 15-member association that has been in the trade ofloading/unloading cargoes from vessels in the Mormugao port for the past 60years. We have 700 permanent employees and over 400 casual workers. With thehalt in mining operations our employees are jobless for the past five months.
TG: Are your member companies paying them salaries? What isthe payment structure?
VP: Till October 31, yes. We have paid our 700 permanentstaff their salaries till October 31. For the last five months we have beenpaying full salaries to our staff from our own resources, but now it isbecoming un-sustainable for us. We do not know of the situation from Novemberonwards.
As we need highly skilled supervisors and crane operators toload and unload the cargo from the vessel the pay package is as high as Rs15,000 to Rs 30,000.
TG: Tell us about the association.
VP: Ours is a highly regulated body by port authority and wework under the dock safety regulations that come under the ministry of labour.Our activities cover Mormugao Port Trust and Panjim Port where 90 percent ofthe cargo handled is iron ore for export. The entire activity of loading ofiron ore, whether by mechanical handling, using ships or floating cranes/TVsetc are under direct supervision of trained supervisors employed by stevedoringcompanies.
TG: What was your quantum of business during the last twofiscal years?
VP: In 2010-11 we handled 55 million tonnes of cargo, whichwas higher than our usual turnover. Usually we handle around 40-45 milliontonnes of cargo each year. In 2011-12 it was 45 million tonnes. There was adrop in the exports during Feb-March 2012 due to the delicate condition in theinternational market. 85-90 percent of the cargo consists of iron and mineralore. The other cargo is just about 10-15 percent.
TG: What happens if the mining ban continues?
VP: Mining industry, in the past, has faced many cycles butnever this type of situation of complete closure. If this closure continues,the members of our association will not be able to sustain the burden of payingidle wages to the staff employed. In the immediate future, we do not see anykind of commodity that can be handled by us and in the same volumes as that ofiron ore.
TG: Any plans to offer a monetary cushion to your staff?
VP: We are wondering how will we be able to protect andsafeguard the long term future of our employees. It is a two-way process. Weseek co-operation from them to sail through this crisis.
