MARGAO
The Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) has highlighted the issues and challenges faced by the seafarers with the Director General of Shipping and Deputy Director, Shipping with a plea to address the problems by the community at the earliest including exemption from payment of income tax.
During an online interaction with Directorate General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan, Secretary of the Director General of Shipping, and Daniel Joseph Deputy Director General of Shipping, GSAI president Frank Viegas discussed a host of issues as a follow up and also policy matters affecting seafarers.
The GSAI highlighted concerns such as providing 2GB of free internet access per month on board the ship, flight tickets up to the hometown while signing off, double overtime pay for working on holidays and Sundays, transparent medical plans/benefits for seafarers, appointment of Seafarer Relation Officers (SRO) by every RPSL company etc.
Frank also highlighted that all Indian seafarers should be exempted from income tax or to give relaxation to 120 days instead of 183 days working on Indian and foreign-going vessels and hosts of issues discussed pertaining to seafarers.
“The DG Shipping expressed great concern over the issues raised by GSAI and assured that their suggestions would be carefully reviewed. The director urged the GSAI to provide case-specific inputs and data to further examine and address the matters raised,” Frank told the media.
Moving forward, he said, the GSAI will continue to follow up on these issues and work closely with the DG Shipping to ensure that the concerns of seafarers are effectively addressed. This collaborative effort between the GSAI and the maritime authorities demonstrates a commitment to improving conditions and policies for seafarers in India, he added.
