KDLB failed to impart necessary training to dock workers

Despite having infrastructure to conduct vocational training course for dock labourers, the Karachi Dock Labour Board (KDLB) has failed to do so, due to lack of indifference and incompetence, putting the lives of labours in danger. Although International Labour Organisation (ILO) had established vocational training centre for dock labourers in 1982, the same, which was supposed to familiarise with modern techniques, has been dysfunctional for the last ten years.
An ILO project to assist the Karachi Dock Labour Board was aimed to determine the most effective ILO strategy for assisting developing countries like Pakistan to establish or upgrade the training capability of port workers in cargo-handling techniques. Sources said authorities have appointed trainers at the said training centre at grade 17 but they only drew salaries for not doing their assigned jobs.
They said that as automation and machination took over the manual work the workers desperately needed training at modern lines to handle the sophisticated machines. Sources inside KDLB told Business Recorder that dock industry required constant upgrading in order to respond to the demands of international trade.
He said that increasing sophistication of infrastructure and widespread use of containers required timely development of dock workers in terms of advanced trainings, which is lacking in our system. He said ILO standards help address these challenges by dealing with two peculiarities of dock work: the need for specific protection, safety and health hazards to which dockworkers are exposed during their work.
When this scribe visited training centre he observed that crane and other machinery posing a pathetic look besides condition of the centre was also in bad shape. Sources said that training centre has become dysfunctional for last many years as no training courses were conducted during this period. To a query on the dilapidated condition of crane at training center it was said that it needs up gradation which be done soon.
Sources said that hundreds of workers were appointed at Karachi docks which lack basic cargo-handling trainings. They said that dozens of workers have lost their lives while working at port due to deficiency of proper cargo handling trainings When contacted Mohammad Safdar, Executive Officer Karachi Docks Labour Board, claimed that training courses were being organised at center time to time.
"We offered weekly and three day courses to the dock workers in order to train them on modern lines" Safdar informed. Hussain Badsha Chairman KDLB Workers Union said that authorities concerned should gauge anxieties of workers and take necessary steps in enhancing their cargo-handling skills so as to make the lives of workers secure while working at port.