No foreigners on Indian vessels
The government will not permit employment of foreign nationals aboard Indian vessels by amending the Shipping Act.
By Priyanka Talwar, TNN |
NEW DELHI: The government will not permit employment of foreign nationals aboard Indian vessels by amending the Shipping Act. The industry has been asking the government to allow employment of foreign nationals due to the acute shortage of Indian seafarers. However, the government is of the view that the shortage pertains only to some positions and is not as acute as the industry claims.
“At present we are not in favour of the industry’s proposal since the shortage is only in the officers’ position. Employment issues are sensitive in nature and we would not approve of opening employment to foreigners. We want the industry to come forward and help us in training more and more people,” an official in the ministry of shipping, road transport & highways said. The industry has argued that if Indians can be employed on board foreign vessels, the government should allow employment of foreign nationals aboard Indian ships. At present, there is no provision for foreign national employment under the shipping Act. “The shortage has been felt by the industry for quite some time now. The demand for Indian seafarers at the officer-level is very high in foreign countries. Foreign vessels offer better emoluments which attracts Indian officers,” a senior official in the Seamen’s Employment Office said.
The shipping industry had asked the government to permit foreign national employment or amend the present tax structure for Indian seafarers. “More than 90% of the output of most of the training institutes goes to foreign shipping companies which offer better salaries and tax benefits. While opening up employment to foreigners is not a good idea, the government should find some mechanism to incentivise Indian officers and other seafarers,” principal of Tolani Maritime Institute BK Saxena said. “Globally, there is a shortage of officers and there is a huge demand for Indian officers,” he said.
“At present we are not in favour of the industry’s proposal since the shortage is only in the officers’ position. Employment issues are sensitive in nature and we would not approve of opening employment to foreigners. We want the industry to come forward and help us in training more and more people,” an official in the ministry of shipping, road transport & highways said. The industry has argued that if Indians can be employed on board foreign vessels, the government should allow employment of foreign nationals aboard Indian ships. At present, there is no provision for foreign national employment under the shipping Act. “The shortage has been felt by the industry for quite some time now. The demand for Indian seafarers at the officer-level is very high in foreign countries. Foreign vessels offer better emoluments which attracts Indian officers,” a senior official in the Seamen’s Employment Office said.
The shipping industry had asked the government to permit foreign national employment or amend the present tax structure for Indian seafarers. “More than 90% of the output of most of the training institutes goes to foreign shipping companies which offer better salaries and tax benefits. While opening up employment to foreigners is not a good idea, the government should find some mechanism to incentivise Indian officers and other seafarers,” principal of Tolani Maritime Institute BK Saxena said. “Globally, there is a shortage of officers and there is a huge demand for Indian officers,” he said.
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