The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has requested the Tamil Nadu government to frame a scheme to provide financial assistance in the form of monthly pension to retired low paid seafarers living in and around coastal districts of the State under the Seafarers Pension Policy. This could be similar to the scheme the Goa Government has for its retired seafarers who were engaged in low paid jobs at sea.
T Narendra Rao, Vice-President, Madras Port & Dock Employees Union and Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) along with Aishwarya Nandakishor Pilankar and Sanjam Sahi Gupta on Monday met Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam with a request to start the pension scheme. FSUI is affiliated with the UK’s International Transport Workers’ Federation, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and the Water Transport Workers Federation of India.
Rao said that there are nearly 25,000 retired seafarers in Tamil Nadu and another 25,000 are in service. The Goa government in June 2021 announced a scheme to provide financial assistance in the form of gross pension of ₹2,500 per month to retired Indian seamen who were engaged on low paid jobs at sea. The jobs include deck, engine and catering ratings, utility hands, carpenter, chief steward, mechanics and non-certified officers such as clerks, he told businessline.
Tamil Nadu is home to a significant number of serving and retired seafarers, particularly in the coastal districts of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Tiruvarur, Thiruvallur, Thanjavur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Villupuram. Many of these seafarers have contributed decades of service to the national and international maritime industry, said Rao.
As per ILO Convention C071 (1948), member countries are encouraged to establish pension schemes for seafarers. India, being a founding member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and having ratified MLC 2006, has yet to implement a comprehensive pension scheme.
“We urge the Government of Tamil Nadu to take the lead in addressing this critical issue by implementing a Seafarers Pension Policy to provide financial security to retired seafarers and their families,” he said. “We will be seeking such a request with other coastal states,” he added.
Rao said FSUI spearheading multiple initiatives to uplift and empower seafarers also sought Tamil Nadu’s support on its Jalpari initiative to empower Women in Maritime careers, promote overseas employment for Indian seafarers to expand job opportunities for Tamil Nadu seafarers and for advocating special status for Merchant Navy Seafarers Merchant Navy seafarers.