News

24 Apr 2008

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) proposes to outsource management of ships. Keeping in view the business dynamics and availability of qualified and competent manpower, the shipping companies all over world including some Indian companies often place their vessels for manning and management under the charge of competent and qualified managers in course of their business. The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)’s decision is primarily actuated by the acute shortage of qualified and competent seafaring officers which in the recent past has resulted in the loss of trading days.
The seafarer’s unions namely Maritime Union of India(MUI), National Union of Seafarers of India(NUSI) and Forward Seamen’s Union of India(FSUI) along with SCI Officers Association and SCI Staff Union jointly opposed the notice issued by SCI inviting tenders for manning and technical management of 30 vessels. The Seafarer’s Unions apprehend loss of job of the seafarer’s as a result of placing the SCI vessels on manning and technical management. SCI Officers Association and SCI Staff Union alleged that the jobs of clerical/ technical nature could not be outsourced under the agreement with the Staff Union. They also demanded stopping of the tendering process and convening a meeting with them.
A reply was sent by SCI to MUI, NUSI, FSUI, SCI Staff Union and the SCI Officers Association on February 8, 2008 explaining the rationale of the decision and assuring that there would be no loss of employment opportunities and the SCI management will completely abide by all subsisting agreements and settlements. It was also clarified that a settlement in relation to the shore staff that is non-seafaring personnel provided that only the clerical jobs which are of perennial nature would not be outsourced and that the contract would not in any manner run contrary to the said settlement. The Seafaring Unions were assured that in the event of manning and technical management being outsourced, the Seafarer’s would continue to be employed. The management also had a meeting with the representatives of the Unions to address their concern and to assure them that in the event the vessels were outsourced, they would be taken into confidence. Government has been informed by the SCI about their decision.
This information was given by the Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri T.R. Baalu in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.