Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Jul 30: The New Mangalore Port (NMPT) Staff Association along with NMPT Pensioners’ Welfare Association urged the union labour minister to take action against NMPT regarding the non-payment of incentives to the staff from April 1, 1990.
Addressing the press meet at the Press Club on Tuesday July 29, S M Paul, general secretary, NMPT Pensioners’ Welfare Association said, “All the staff working at NMPT are liable to get incentives from April 1,1990, according to the Industrial Disputes Act 1947. Despite an order issued by the Supreme Court of India and after a fight of 25 years, the company authorities are denying incentives to the staff.”
“The history of the fight dates back to August 7, 2003, when NMPT challenged the order of the High Court with the writ against the incentives and this was dismissed on September 19, 2011. Unsatisfied by the judgment, NMPT challenged the decision with the writ in the divisional bench of the High Court and it was dismissed on August 1, 2012. Even after this, NMPT filed a petition in the Supreme Court and this too was dismissed on February 28, 2014. Instead of honouring the order, NMPT is denying incentives to the staff,” he added.
“NMPT is just delaying the payment of the incentives illegally. Hence, we want our representatives to raise this issue in the Parliament and urge the union labour minister to direct NMPT officials to pay the incentives,” said Paul.
Sudhakara Kamath, general secretary, New Mangalore Port Staff Association, Ramesh Poojary, and W F D’Souza were among those present on the occasion.