Concerns: FPCCI asks dock workers to resolve issues

KDLB opted for go-slow policy to press demands

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has urged all stakeholders to amicably resolve problems that have emerged after the ‘go-slow policy’ was adopted by the Karachi Dock Labor Board (KDLB) at Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

Go-slow is an industrial action in which employees perform their duties but seek to reduce productivity or efficiency in their performance.

KDLB opted to apply go-slow from December 26 to December 30, 2016 to press their demands for imposition of Cess and KDLB Gang booking at the new Deep Draft Terminal, South Asia Pakistan Terminal Limited (SAPTL) for which they have been granted concessions.

SAPTL has installed state-of-the-art port machinery to handle cargo due to which it needs fewer workers for operations. Dock workers at KPT fear massive redundancy as their services will become obsolete due to the use of latest machinery at the SAPTL port. Dock workers say the KPT should protect any possible job losses by revisiting its contract with SAPTL.

FPCCI Senior Vice President  Khalid Tawab said the FPCCI along with other stakeholders remained engaged till the go-slow was called off.

Tawab has welcomed the formation of a high powered committee under the chairmanship of the minister to resolve the issue on a permanent basis to avoid reoccurrence of such situations in the future. They said that while taking any decision and framing recommendations on the issue, interests of major stakeholders of the business community must be protected who contribute millions of rupees to the government through taxes on imports and exports.

He appealed to all the workers of KDLB not to resort to such extreme measures, as the country’s economy cannot afford these heralds at this stage.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2017.

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