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The issue of payment of Productivity-Linked Reward (PLR) port-wise to the employees of eleven Major Ports and Dock Labour Boards has been a burning issue for the last two years. The matter though jointly referred to the National Industrial Tribunal at Mumbai by the Ministry, till date could not be resolved. During the year 2002-03, on an appeal made by the Federations to the Ministry, an advance of 8.33% was paid by the Ports and in the following year, i.e., 2003-04, as a goodwill gesture, the Ministry asked the Ports to pay a similar amount of advance, i.e., 8.33% to the workers of the Port Trusts/ Dock Labour Boards subject to adjustment on the basis of the award of the Tribunal. The Labour Federations, however, continued to demand 20% PLR for both the years as was the position in the past based on an earlier agreement between the Management and the Federations.
In the absence of release of PLR @ 20%, the Unions affiliated to the Federations at all the Major Ports gave a strike notice in November 2004 to resort to strike on or after 8th December 2004 if their demand for 20% PLR was not met. The matter was taken into conciliation by the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) and two rounds of meetings were held and the matter remained inconclusive. So as to have better industrial relations, the Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Thiru T. R. Baalu decided to meet the Federations for discussions. After the Meeting today, the Minister announced that the matter has been resolved amicably between the port workers’ Federations and the port Managements by agreeing to pay PLR @ 15.5%, inclusive of 8.33% already paid for 2002-03 and 2003-04, subject to final award of the National Tribunal.
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