‘Give double overtime for seafarers’

Margao: President of Goan Seamen Association of India, Frank Viegas, on Tuesday met the director general of shipping, Amitabh Kumar, and discussed various issues pertaining to the seafarer community
Among the major issues that were taken up for discussion were the demands for shipping companies to provide flight tickets for seafarers up to their hometown as per their home state during signing off, and that seafarers’ baggage allowance of 40kg to be retained while transiting to domestic flights.
Viegas said that the directorate general of shipping was in the process of amending the rules pertaining to providing pension or monetary assistance to all retiring seafarers so that they are assured of a better life after retirement.
In a memorandum presented to Kumar, Viegas listed some of the other demands of the seafarer community. Making income tax free for all Indian seafarers working on Indian and as well as overseas-bound vessels, shorter contract period of seven months, providing 2 GB data per month of internet access free for seafarers on board the ship, and providing double overtime for seafarers working on Sundays and holidays.