Workers Revolutionary Party - SHIPBREAKERS DEMAND ACTION

The News Line: News Tuesday, 10 October 2006 SHIPBREAKERS DEMAND ACTION

Shipbreakers KHALANI ISMAIL (left), DHANANJAY YADAV (centre) and (right) VIDYADHAR RANE, secretary of the Mumbai Port Trust, Dock and General Employees’ Union

FIFTEEN per cent of the 65,000 workers employed in scrapping ships at sites on India’s west coast are suffering from asbestosis.

The shocking statistic was reported to a press conference in London yesterday, attended by a delegation of Indian workers visiting Britain to demand regulation of the shipbreaking industry.

‘We came here to stop the loss of life in this industry. Health and safety is the prime issue,’ said Vidyadhar Rane, secretary of the Mumbai Port Trust, Dock and General Employees’ Union.

A DVD about conditions on India’s coast was screened at yesterday’s press conference, held at the headquarters of the International Transport Workers Federation.

‘They don’t have goggles, safety gloves or proper training in how to handle hazardous materials,’ said a union organiser in the DVD.

‘Most don’t know what asbestos is, but they’re handling it,’ he added, urging developed countries to take some responsibility and end unregulated working conditions.

Rob Johnston, from the International Metalworkers Federation, said the DVD, which featured men, women and children at work, lifted the lid on conditions in ‘a billion dollar industry’.

Johnston added: ‘The UK government can take a lead – the International Maritime Organisation is based here.

‘Fifteen per cent of the workforce are suffering from asbestosis.’