MPT board acceptable options for employees to leave

10 November 2012 | Panaji

 

Mormugao port trust (MPT) has approved a special voluntary retirement scheme (SVRS) and special leave, as options to its 2,605 employees, to tide over the crisis sparked off by the ban on mining activities in Goa. "We are offering a golden handshake to our employees," MPT chairman Mr. P Mara Pandiyan said.

As a softer option, employees can avail special leave to leave the establishment to work in other parts of the country or abroad till MPT's financial position stabilizes.

"The proposals will be sent to the government of India for approval and may take about a fortnight to be cleared," Mr. Pandiyan said.

The MPT board on Friday took stock of the situation due to the mining ban and listed two measures to reduce its workforce.

The MPT chief sounded confident that the work force has gained the requisite skills over the years to look for greener pastures. "They can avail special leave for two years, renewable twice, to yield a total leave period of six years," he explained.

Over a dozen applications have already been received for the special leave. Mr. Pandiyan said he had discussed the matter with the unions and secured their approval before taking up the proposals at the board level for finalization.

"We will need 100 crore to make the offer to at least 200 employees," Mr. Pandiyan said.

MPT was one of the profitable ports in the country, mopping up 300 crore from mining itself, before mining came to a halt in September this year. The port administration pays out 23 crore per month as salaries and pensions and 75% of its revenue is raked in from ore exports.

A proposal of coal handling at berth No. 11 under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is being actively considered and is likely to be tendered by the end of November 2012.