MARGAO: There’s good news for the seafarers’ community, as the Ministry of Shipping, Ports, and Waterways, through the Seamen Provident Fund Organisation, is set to introduce two new schemes, the Seafarer Gratuity Fund and Seafarers Annuity Fund Scheme, aiming to provide social security benefits to all Indian seafarers.
In a letter addressed to the Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI), the Seamen Provident Fund Commissioner highlighted that the schemes would benefit seafarers of all ranks working on Indian and foreign-flagged vessels. “Taking into account the seafarers’ circumstances, the organisation has decided to expand the ambit of the Seamen Provident Fund Act to include foreign-flagged vessels, thereby ensuring greater social security and benefits for Indian seafarers,” said the letter.
The introduction of both schemes and the inclusion of foreign-flagged vessels under the Seamen Provident Fund Act and Scheme, 1966, require amendments in the EPF Act and Scheme, 1966. These amendments will be processed after consideration by the Board of Trustees of the Seamen Provident Fund Organisation.
Reacting to the announcement, Frank Viegas, President, Goan Seamen Association of India, said that the association was committed to working towards the welfare of seafarers and their community's interests. GSAI is presently urging the Goa government to make the Goa Welfare Pension scheme for seafarers a permanent provision. The government recently notified the scheme for a period of three years.