Globalisation: The Impact on Port and Dock Workers in India

Abstract

By the 1970s, countries all over the world started reviewing their policies that stressed on demand-driven economic growth and state-let import substitution. In order to avoid economic and political marginalisation, the less developed countries (LDCs) also opened up their economies. These developments have had profound implications for the workers of ports and docks. Recently, there has been a move to re-organise teh port trusts. Corporation is seen as a first step towards privatising ports and improving their effeciveness and profitability. Notwithstanding this, private sector participation already covers some areas. Unions in the ports are trying to grapple with the issue of privatisatoin, sub-contracting, a ban on permanent employment an increase in the use of contract workers. The unions have rejected some of the Indian Ports Association's (IPA) recommendations with respect to the manning of scales, interchangeability, over-time and productivity linked bonuses. nonetheless, it rema...