NUSI Pushes Final Approval of Revised Wages for Andaman Seafarers
The National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) is pressing the Union Government to finally approve revised wages for seafarers working on passenger and cargo ships run by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration from Port Blair. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory in the Bay of Bengal far from the Indian mainland, depend on these ships for the movement of islanders, food, fuel and other supplies.
The wage revision needs approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which has been delayed. NUSI says its Port Blair representative met MHA Joint Secretary P. Manoj Kumar on 23 October, who indicated approval would reach the island administration within a month. The union met Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale on 24 October.
On 28 October in New Delhi, NUSI met Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, who directed that the file be expedited. According to the union, the Joint Secretary then confirmed that the file had been cleared by all departments and was moving to the Union Home Secretary for final approval, which is still pending. The wage amounts have not been made public.
NUSI has stressed that the “implementation of revised wages is the real objective,” and says it will keep following up until the new pay is in place.
For crews on the island ships, the file reaching its final stage is a hopeful sign after a long wait. Once approved, the revision should bring their pay closer to the demands of a tough island service on which the whole territory relies.
