SAGT on strike, loss over Rs.200 m
View(s):The South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) at the Colombo Port has not been operational since Monday night due to a strike action launched by workers resulting in a revenue loss of Rs.220 million in tariff rates for the month with a possible loss of 30,000 TEUs.
A revenue loss of Rs.220 million for the month is likely to be incurred as a result of the strike action due to a loss of about 30,000 TEUs, SAGT CEO Romesh David told the Business Times Thursday.
Workers have been complaining of working on the 7am to 7pm and 7pm to 7am shifts and requesting for overtime pay for increased work from over six hours. The strike was called off on Friday, other officials said.
Mr. David noted that every person works 20 12-hour shifts per month and they are paid overtime for the additional hours in a daily shift.
However, the 7-7 shifts does not mean that workers are compelled to work at a stretch, Mr. David said; on the contrary they will be working for three hours and resting while another group takes over and then they take over for another three hours.
He noted that this is an opportunistic effort by the unions to engage in strike action to demand for more pay.
In this respect, authorities at the terminal have partially resolved the crisis by ensuring that about 60 per cent of its operations are back on track by engaging contract and retired staff to work at the terminal.
Mr. David noted that they were likely to resolve the issue by Friday or Saturday.
(SD)