Wharf clerks on strike disrupt port activity

Activities at the Colombo Port and Customs were disrupted yesterday by external wharf clerks (clearing agents) who went on strike following an increase in entry tariff to the port premises.

According to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Security Chief Manager D.C. Premaratne, the increase, effective 1 January 2016, had been long overdue. Since the late 1980s, the annual entry fee for wharf clerks had been between Rs. 250 and Rs. 300, which was increased to Rs. 10,000 per year at the beginning of this year, he said.

Clearing agent companies, or customs house agents, have opted to go on strike, charging that the new tariff is too high. A spokesman/coordinator for the trade union in question was unavailable for comment.

SLPA Chief Manager, Marketing and Business Development Upul Jayatissa confirmed that there has been a delay in trucks coming into the port as a result of the trade union action. However, over 1,500 personnel have already purchased entry passes, having paid the renewed annual fee of Rs. 10,000, he added. 



Premeratne told the Daily FT that the workers who have already paid the fee have been doing business with the port since the start of the year, although it was unclear how many of them had joined the strike. The SLPA had not been formally informed of the strike, he said. Workers are not legally bound to inform the SLPA, though they usually inform in advance out of courtesy.