Editorial
Ctg port relapsing into old ways?
Management needs to be more assertive
The traders' impression is that Chittagong Port is getting caught up in a slow-down mode once again. Thankfully though, it is not as bad as it used to be prior to the preceding caretaker government's efficiency enhancing drive. The average turnaround time in port handling has increased to five-six days from what had accelerated to two-four days during caretaker regime. As a result, extra Tk50crore is being coughed up by the port users in surcharges.
The dip in turnaround time was more than 10 days prior to the reform initiative. That the port had not slumped to its worst is little solace because it seems that workers' unrest is on a comeback trail. This is the right time to roll back the negative trend in efficiency with some assertive and astute management coming into play.
The issue centres around a single point operation system replacing the 21-year old stevedoring system in which 22 politically associated trade unions and stevedores pulled in different directions, thereby sapping port efficiency. Also in the process of the switch-over, 4000 workers were retrenched. Now that the three-year contract with the berth operators ended on May 16 this year, there is a regrouping of workers to reinstate the sacked workers. The importers alleged that there is the problem of corruption with workers demanding money at every point. With the elected government in power, the pressure of politicisation has grown as the CPA is working to activate "the central booking cell" by empowering the worker's leaders. The port users are opposed to this.
Just as overstaffing is undesirable, so are also corruption and other forms of malpractice for which the port authority can also be blamed. Besides, there is a persistent resistance from the workers to modernising the port handling capacities. We are for trade union rights but there must be one CBA in place of two or three for which the labour law needs to be reformed. True, we need to strike a balance between the welfare of the workers and the interest of the businessmen but nothing that compromises the efficiency of the port should get the better of the government's best judgement.
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