All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation (HMS), representing about 30,000 port workers, have come out in defence of their stand against the proposed corporatisation of major ports in the country.
While the government claims corporatisation will lead to better efficiency and management of major ports, workers have countered the claim by saying that efficiency can be improved without corporatisation.
Technological improvement could be achieved by replacing old equipment and by introducing professional management, said P.M. Mohammed Haneef, general secretary of the federation in a document titled ‘Why We Oppose Corporatisation of Ports’. Introduction of professional management and better equipment would help improve productivity because the port labour was dedicated and work culture in the major ports was extremely cordial and devoted, claimed the document.
