Minister of Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri has warned the officers of the Karachi Port Trust for creating hurdles in the 'Charter of Demands' of newly-elected Collective Bargaining Agents (CBA).
Addressing the oath taking ceremony of KPT CBA United Workers Front here on Thursday, he said the ministry was regularly receiving complaints against certain KPT officers creating problems in the affairs of newly-elected CBA, adding that "I have been ignoring such complaints for a long time as I do not want to take action against anyone."
"But from now on I am going to take action under Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO) 2002 against those officers found involved in such activities and creating delays and hurdles in the CBA's Charter of Demands."
Ghauri accepted seven demands during the ceremony, including the allotment of residential land for KPT employees, which was pending for last 15 years but would now be given before Eid-ul-Fitr. The ministry has already issued directives on the residential scheme, the minister said.
The CBA seat in KPT's Board of Trustees has been restored and from now onwards a CBA-nominated member would participate in the meetings, he added.
The minister directed the KPT chairman to withdraw restriction on employees' overtime and start paying full overtime. Ghauri asked the KPT workers to honestly work for the betterment of the organisation and do not misuse the overtime system.
He said all organisations under his ministry have been directed to promote departmental candidates instead of appointments from outside. All KPT employees would be promoted if eligible against vacant positions, Ghauri added.
As far as golden handshake is concerned, he said, the scheme is an opportunity for employees. He announced three hundred cycles from ministry as a gift for workers, which would be distributed through draw by the CBA.
The minister also announced 30 computers for KPT employees' children to be distributed on merit and through scrutiny to deserving candidates. United Workers Front Chairman Mohammed Mohsin and General Secretary, Javed Hashmi also spoke on the occasion.