Port Concession Increases Job Security, Better Remuneration For Dockworkers, Say Terminal Operators
. CBAs Giving Maritime Workers New Lease Of Life
By Abimbola Abdullah
Nigeria’s port concession programme has been a transformative game-changer which has increased job security and improved remuneration and welfare for dockworkers.
Stakeholders, who gathered at the 2024 Dockworkers Day organised by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) in collaboration with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), in Lagos, said the Dockworkers are the backbone of Nigeria’s seaborne trade, yet their inputs usually go unnoticed.
Speaking at the programme, the Chairman, Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup, said, as the unsung heroes of the maritime industry, dockworkers play a crucial role in ensuring smooth operation of the nation’s ports. She emphasized that their skills, expertise, and dedication facilitate the movement of goods, stimulate trade, and drive economic growth.
Haastrup applauded SCAN for initiating and organizing the Dockworkers’ Day, saying: “Your pioneering idea of shining a spotlight on the often-overlooked heroes of our ports is truly praiseworthy, and your dedication to annually celebrating their vital role is truly laudable”.
She said by introducing private sector expertise and investment at the port, the port concession has improved working conditions and safety standards, enhanced productivity and efficiency, increased job security and better remuneration, and provided training and development opportunities.
According to her, these positive impacts have significantly improved the livelihoods of dockworkers, enabling them to better support their families and communities.
Prior to the 2006 port concession programme, she said dockworkers faced numerous challenges, including poor remuneration, lack of conditions of service, and lack of identifiable employers.
Adding that their safety was often neglected, leading to exploitation, dehumanisation, and underpayment, she said the Federal Government’s bold move to reform and concession the ports has transformed the industry.
Haastrup, however stated that the STOAN, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), and NIMASA have collaborated to enhance dockworkers’ welfare through the regular signing of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), noting that these agreements ensured fair treatment, living wages, and retirement benefits, thereby giving dockworkers a new lease on life.
“Today, dockworkers have comprehensive and robust conditions of service, which include health insurance, life insurance, workmen compensation, pension, gratuity, and bonuses,” she said.
Stating that the “impact is evident”, Haastrup said the average dockworker’s take-home pay has increased substantially and the CBA has also fostered industrial harmony at the ports.
She however assured that the terminal operators remained steadfastly committed to the welfare of dockworkers, unwavering in their dedication despite the challenging economic situation in the country.
President, SCAN, Eugene Agha, said Nigeria is on its way to Optimizing the benefits of its abundant ocean endowments with the creation of a separate ministry of marine and blue economy for the sector. Already, he said both government and private sector stakeholders are repositioning to make the most of this reality.
“In an import -dependent economy, and with the port sector a primary segment of the nation’s focus for revenue generation and economic diversification, we at SCAN believe that Dockworkers are pivotal in translating the efforts to exploit the nation’s near-endless marine potentials into economic wealth,” he said.
The Managing Director, Port Terminal Multi Service Ltd., (PTML), Mr Ascanio Russo, described the dockworkers as the engine room of port on operations.
Rosso said that for efficient service delivery that there was need to engage dockworkers in constant sensitisation to enable them perform excellently in accordance with the International best practices.
He urged the terminal operators to support the dockworkers to reduce the time of doing business in Nigeria adding that presently a ship was discharging 5,000 cars in less than 60 hours without no scratch.
Rosso said that there was need to invest in educating the Dockworkers to be able to handle standard technology to reduce turn around time of cargo.
