VASCO
The AAP in Mormugao has sharply criticised the Mormugao Port Trust’s (MPT) move to freeze the Dearness Allowance (DA) for its employees.
Mormugao AAP Coordinator and NGO ‘Goa First’ President Parshuram Sonurlekar said the recent move to freeze the DA of MPT workers and other major ports in India was unacceptable.
“The Covid pandemic as the reason placed by the ministry is not acceptable as all major ports including MPT were working 24x7 during the pandemic. The freezing of DA for the quarter July 1 till September 30 will severally affect the non-management staff and pensioners, besides the employees.”
“It will be unethical of the MPT plans to recover the already paid DA from the salaries and pensions of its employees,” said Sonurlekar.
He informed that some port employee unions have already filed a writ petition in their respective high courts as well against the decision.
“The MPT and all other major ports are self-sufficient and the Centre must recover huge outstanding amount from coal handling units in the Port instead of freezing the DA of the employees who have put in their hard work and risked their lives and that of their families even during the initial stages while Covid was at its peak in Goa,” said Sonurlekar.
Meanwhile, a port union member has denounced the move as a contempt of court.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the Port Workers Union said the High Court of Karnataka and Bombay High Court had stayed the freezing of DA on an all-India level.
“The Vishakapatnam Port Trust issued circular of not freezing the DA. Despite of high court’s order of a stay on freezing of DA, MPT is all set to go ahead with freezing of DA which would mean lesser payment in salary of Rs 2000-4000 to employees.”
“Employees are supposed to get a new DA at 23.83%, but will be paid at 18.41% i.e 5.42% less. The port will save Rs 1crore a month while employees will lose their DA,” said the union member.
