There has been a wage revision for Indian seafarers this year, after a pact between the National Shipowner’s Association (INSA) and seafarers’ bodies — National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) and Forward Seafarers Union of India (FSUI).
The agreement, which was signed on December 7, under the 47th National Maritime Board (India), will be effective till December 31, 2023. It will benefit over 50,000 employees, including ratings and petty officers, working on Indian ships of foreign-bound, off-shore, home trade vessels, and harbour tugs.
For seamen employed at the harbour tugs, the new agreement is a first. Their wages will be revised by at least 10 per cent overall, for the period January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. A cumulative hike for them will take place between 2021 and 2023.
The NUSI and FSUI are the two representatives of seafarers in the country and INSA comprises around 36 members. The revised wage agreement will see foreign-going ratings getting an increment of 40 per cent and petty officers getting a hike of 30 per cent in their wages. The home-trade ratings and petty officers’ wages have already been increased by 20 per cent. Simultaneously, off-shore ratings and petty officers’ basic wages have been revised by 10 per cent and seven per cent respectively.
The agreement safeguards employee rights of Indian seafarers working across various positions for Indian shipowners.
Re-employment, skill enhancement, fighting discrimination, mental health awareness and b better redressal are also being worked on. The death and disability compensations for mariners on ships that carry radioactive material will also see a hike.
