The reported siphoning of seafarers funds arising out of the terminal benefits of their dedicated sea service over the years by union leaders in collusion with the ship owners or the manning agents needs to be thoroughly investigated.
This multi-crore scam has been going on since long with the seafarers bearing this in silence with the fear of losing their jobs. These amounts were compulsorily deducted from the seaman's wages every month but where these funds were going is a mystery. At one time the retired seafarers were paid a monthly pension of only Rs 200.
Seafarers are the backbone of the shipping industry where 90% of the world trade is via the sea route. During the pandemic the world came to a standstill but the sea trade kept on moving to keep the world ongoing.
FIR has been raised against the GS of the union. We only hope law takes its own course and reaches its logical end.
