HC largesse for MbPT workers

MUMBAI, November 11: Faced with a contempt of court notice for a second time, the Mumbai Port Trust MbPT agreed to absorb and pay 30 bhak...

MUMBAI, November 11: Faced with a contempt of court notice for a second time, the Mumbai Port Trust MbPT agreed to absorb and pay 30 bhakriwalis chapati makers employed in its canteens Rs 1.30 lakh each in arrears.

Justice R M Lodha of the Bombay High Court passed his order on October 21, 1997 following a contempt petition filed by the MbPT General Workers8217; Union charging that several workers were affected by the non-implementation of a high court order in 1994 extending all benefits to the employees.

Early in August 1991, the Transport and Dock Workers Union had filed a writ petition asking MbPT to regularise canteen workers employed by the co-operatives and fix their salaries on par with those working in its departmental canteens. They also pleaded for abolishing contract labour. The central government had filed an affidavit stating that a notification May 9, 1991 was issued prohibiting employment of contract labour in certain categories. However, it did not include canteens and guest houses.

Meanwhile, following the high court bench order the Regional Labour Commissioner8217;s Mumbai report on parity of wages among MbPT workers revealed that the staff in departmental canteens were paid more than the staff in the 17 cooperative society canteens set up by the employees. On August 20, 1994 the Bombay High Court declared that the co-operatives workers should be treated as employees of MbPT with effect from October 1, 1991. Also that they be given provident fund, gratuity and other benefits on the scale given to departmental canteens workers.

In the contempt petition of June 1997, MbPT General Workers Union charged that the port authorities had willfully neglected or only partly implemented the courts orders.

On August 4, 1997 a contempt order was issued to the then MbPT chairman Sharad Kale. Finally on October 21, 1997 Justice Lodha directed MbPT to regularise all contract bhakriwalis within eight weeks. Thereafter except for three bhakriwalis, all others who were applicants in the petition were paid lump-sum amounts.

General secretary of MbPT General Workers8217; Union V Narayanan hoped that with the new chairman AK Mago taking charge, there will be improvement in the working conditions.