Sri Vijaya Puram | February 19, 2026
The Hinterland Seamen Union (CITU), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has urged the Home Secretary, Government of India, to accord early approval to the proposal for wage revision of crew members working in the inter-island and foreshore sectors under the Shipping Department of the A&N Administration.
In a letter addressed recently to the Home Secretary in New Delhi, D. Ayyappan, President of the Hinterland Seamen Union, stated that the wage revision for crew members serving on Administration-owned vessels has been pending since 2012 due to the failure of the Administration to conclude a wage agreement with the Union in a timely manner.
According to Ayyappan, the wage revision for crew members in the inter-island sector has been due since April 2012, while that of the foreshore sector has been pending since April 2018. He pointed out that wage revisions are mandated to be carried out every two years. However, crew members in the inter-island and foreshore sectors continue to draw wages fixed 16 years ago and 10 years ago respectively.
He informed the Home Secretary that although the wage revision proposals for both sectors have been finalised, implementation has been delayed. The A&N Administration had submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, which subsequently forwarded it to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the administrative ministry for the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Union President stated that the proposal has been under consideration of the Government of India for the past four months. Highlighting the financial hardship faced by crew members, Ayyappan said that the prolonged delay in concluding the wage agreement has severely affected their livelihood.
He further pointed out that unlike other categories of employees, crew members in the shipping sector do not receive annual increments or dearness allowance (DA), making it increasingly difficult for them to manage with their current income.
Appealing for urgent intervention, Ayyappan stressed the need for expeditious approval of the wage revision proposal, noting that the crew members continue to draw wages fixed over a decade and a half ago without any hike.
