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CHENNAI APRIL 22: Visakhapatnam port has increased the levy rates on wages of workers from April 1. About 1,500 workers are engeged in cargo handling operations at the port. “The port has increased the levy from 189 pc to 250 pc on Rs 1,000 per worker for an 8-hour shift now Moreover, from july the port plans to increase the levy further to 350 pc, which will mean we have to spend Rs 4,500 per worker,” Krishna Kumar, president, Visakhaptnam Stevedores Association, said.

Vizag port supplies manpower to stevedores for loading and unloading activates. According to port sources, the cargo handling division of the port incurred a loss of about Rs 21.78 crore as at the end of March 2009. The hike in levy is aimed at avoiding Further losses, with this decision, manual cargo handling charges would increase 15 pc Krishna kumar said.

Earlier. a group comprised 12 workers, which the port has now reduced to 7-8 “we are getting the same productivity even with the reduced number of workers and, therefore, our wage bill has declined 30 pc, but the overall cargo handling expenses have increased to 15 pc because of  the levy hike,” he said.

“With mechanical operations gaining ground, the port will need only 1,500-2,000 workers in future. The stevedores association and the port together are planning to give VRS to 1,000 -1,500 workers,” krishna kumar said.