Porters on strike, Indo-Pak trade hit at Attari border

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 24

The bilateral trade between India-Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah route came to a halt with porters striking work.

They are demanding adequate labour charges and fixed working hours.

On the other hand, the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and traders have refused to oblige the porters working at the Integrated Check Post (ICP).

The CWC officials are of the view that the ICP working had been bogged down with the intervention of some self-styled leaders of the porters’ union.

However, a meeting was called between the representatives of both sides, but failed end the impasse.

DC Varun Roojam said that though today’s meeting remained inconclusive, yet negotiations are underway to resolve the standoff.

Porters on the Indian side carry goods till the Pakistani gate from where porters from the other side take over and vice-versa.

Around 1,430 licensed porters at the ICP are on strike since Wednesday and around 400 trucks laden with cement, gypsum and dry fruit were parked on the Pakistani side. Long queues of goods-laden trucks were also seen at Attari, as the goods could not be offloaded due to the strike.

Around 20-22 loaded trucks from Pakistan returned back as no porter was available on the Indian side.

The traders didn’t justify the porters’ demands. They said that each porter earned an average of Rs 45,000 a month. They even charge for mechanical work in which no manual labour was involved. The import of gypsum from Pakistan was handled mechanically and there was no involvement of porters, but charges were still being collected by them.

MPS Chatha, president, All India Cement Importers Association, said “I have been receiving complaints from my Pakistani counterparts, but I could only express my helplessness. Consequently, some of the trucks had to return. At least 180 trucks operate between India and Pakistan through the ICP daily.”

“If one truck ferries goods worth Rs 2 lakh on an average, the loss is of Rs 3.6 crore per day,” he added.

On the other hand, the porters claimed their demand was justified. They also demanded medical insurance as they faced various health risks while handling all sorts of goods, including chemicals.

Hind Mazdoor Sabha Border Union president Kulwant Singh Bawa and Michael Attari said that most among them have been working here since 1976. Since the ICP came into being in 2012, their wages have been curtailed.

“Earlier we were paid ‘dala’ (unloading some boxes from the truck to inspect the material) wages, but since 2012 this portion of wage is shared by the traders’ staff members and the transporter, whereas it is our right to claim it.

“Secondly, we are made to work from 8 am to midnight, which is a health hazard and risky. Three of our colleagues died while unloading goods. Our working hours should be limited between 8 am and 4 pm and the loading or unloading process should be reworked accordingly”, he said.