Ctg port workers getting wage hike

Shipping agents and terminal operators have agreed on a wage hike for Chittagong port workers.

They decided to hike the wages of onboard workers by 4.5 per cent for container unloading and 5.7 per cent for bulk cargo unloading after a meeting at Chittagong Port Building on Monday.

Private sector operators run jetties and terminals of the port to speed up work. They employ onboard workers. The berth ‍terminal operators mainly provide labour required for unloading goods from ships and the shipping agents pay for it.

A significant portion of 7,000 Chittagong port workers are involved in unloading goods at jetties inside the port.

In 2016, there was an agreement on a 10 per cent wage hike for container unloading workers. Shipping agents opposed it, calling the rate too high.

Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association President Sayed Mohammad Arif said they had asked the authorities concerned to review it several times.

“We’ve been demanding to keep it at a logical level because it would push up operating costs and widen discrimination among workers,” he said.

As tensions between the parties simmered, the port authorities held a meeting on Monday. Arif said there was a consensus among all on wage hikes.

Fazle Ikram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators Association, said the port authorities should issue a clear directive in this regard.

Port sources said the issue concerns the berth operators and shipping Agents as the port is only a regulator here. Monday’s meeting was held as part of the arrangements to avoid any stalemate over the wage hike dispute.

Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruque said the parties concerned reached an agreement to continue the everyday activities at the port. It remains to be seen whether there will be further discussions on this issue.