Wage issue hits cargo activity at DP World

MUMBAI: Cargo activity at DP World’s container terminal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port has almost come to a standstill due to a disagreement over wages between the union workers and the management.

The disruptions at work started on October 11 after wage negotiations between DP World and 300 union workers fell through. The workers allegedly adopted a ‘go slow’ strategy. But now the situation has worsened.

“The work has almost come to a halt. The workers are also not letting other terminals at the port handle the cargo,” JNPT’s chairman in charge NN Kumar told ET. He added he was trying to consult the parties to reach a negotiation.

However, labour union leader Bhushan Patil alleged DP World was not allowing workers inside the terminal since October 15, and also claimed that the workers at the terminal were getting paid one third of what JNPT employees earned.

Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT), which is a public-private partnership between Dubai’s DP World and JNPT, is one of the three terminals at the port. JNPT handles largest volume of containers in India.

“We hope that the workers would desist from such activities and amicably resolve this situation through peaceful discussion,” said Anil Singh, Sr. Vice President and Managing Director, DP World Subcontinent Region, in an emailed statement.

DP World is trying to get workforce from other terminals of theirs in the country to JNPT to help with the operations amid the strike, people familiar with the matter told ET.