Labour Shortage, Customs Red Tape Affecting Trade at MbPT
Mumbai and Nhava Sheva Ship Agents Association (MANSA) has conveyed their disappointment to Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) over the extreme inconvenience faced by vessels calling at the port due to acute shortage of cargo handling workers.
MANSA, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of Mumbai Port Trust states, “The Port is not in a position to allot the required number of gangs for ensuring normal rate of operations of discharge / load the vessels. This has resulted in increase in the turn-round time of the vessel in the Port.”
Pointing out the manning levels prescribed by National Tribunal Award, the letter states that had the revised and rationalized Manning Scales been implemented by the Port, the prevailing shortage does not occur.
On the other grievances faced by the ship agents’ fraternity, MANSA in a separate letter to the Commissioner of Customs has called upon to expedite the issue of daily passes to the ship agents’ staff that has been resulting in substantial delays in attending their day-to-day work.
Sharing a specific instance, the letter stated that an application from M/s Parekh Shipping was submitted to the Customs office on May 27 this year for renewal of their Permits but still remains unprocessed. Subsequently a reminder was sent on September 2 to Deputy Commissioner of Customs that too was of no avail.
Subsequently, a response was received on October 14 from Mr. K. S. Iqbal, Asst. Commissioner of Customs, Custom Broker Section, Mumbai asking for IEC Code details which were also furnished accordingly. As there was no further progress, a reminder was sent on Oct 14 to Customs which was promptly acknowledged stating that the papers were put up to the Chief Commissioner and with a suggestion to take up the matter with the Chief Commissioner himself.
