PANJIM: In an attempt to resolve the ongoing workers’ protest, Western India Shipyard Ltd has announced recommencement of operations along with releasing payment of pending salaries upto November 2015, immediately. The company also expressed its desire to extend the lease with Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), which expires this month.
WISL representatives on Tuesday evening met Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar with their proposal to settle the claims of the striking workers and other officers, who have not been paid salaries for the last one year.
“There is a big downturn in the ship building industry. In such a situation, we want to play a role in boosting the industry. We are serious in continuing our ship building unit here,” Sayyad Abdi, managing director and CEO of ABG Shipyard Ltd, told media persons. ABG is the largest share holder in WISL.
“Our current lease with MPT expires this month. We are now planning to extend it,” he said.
Earlier, Parsekar had said that the company is ready to commence its unit and has already got business in the form of construction of a new ship. The work will commence in the next ten days, provided the workers return to duty, he said.
They said that the striking workers are being paid salaries upto September 2015 along with junior officers. In case of assistant managers the salary upto June 2015 are being released while for the senior managers and others salaries upto March 2015 are being cleared.
“The company is ready to release the salaries to all categories upto November 2015 with immediate effect. The balance will be cleared within the next two months,” Parsekar said.
Abdi along with WISL chief financial officer Muthuswami and Yard Head Anil Rao urged the chief minister to intervene and develop confidence among the striking workers to return to duty.
