VASCO
Employees of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) have raised apprehension on the implementation of the Special Voluntary Retirement Scheme (SVRS) to its employees.
A source informed The Goan that MPT may move to retrench its workers by introducing SVRS 2020 as per guidelines issued by Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
“The MPT along with the salary statement also provided statement of terminal benefits to induce and encourage its workers to opt for the SVRS. There are apprehensions on whether MPT will pay workers the arrears of wage settlement dues first or directly implement SVRS which was held up for lack of finance,” said the source.
The source said there are around 1,450 workers, including officers, who will be offered the SVRS.
“There is a circular issued to implement the scheme across all ports. Our wage revision was to be applied in 2022 and because it will cost additional money, the MPT is trying to encourage employees to opt for SVRS and hence, calculation sheet has been provided along with pay slips.”
“The MPT should take a resolution as a policy decision before implementing the SVRS in a board meeting but has not been done as yet. It will happen in due course of time. The pending dues of workers for three years have not been paid by MPT citing financial crisis but SVRS will need much more money and there is doubt that employees may not accept SVRS if the previous dues are not settled,” said the source.
