Paradip: A strike call by stevedore workers here affected cargo handling at the port on Wednesday. Both mechanised and manual cargo handling was affected with the stevedore workers staying away from daily operations.

"The agitating workers who were designated as helpers were demanding to be upgraded to the rank of operators with higher pay package. Cargo handling is a highly skilled job and requires expertise to load and unload of cargoes in both mechanised and manual manner. However, our job is yet to be accorded skilled job status," said stevedore worker Nibash Jena.

Another worker, Banajit Sethy said: "Apart from conferring skilled job tag on us, we have been persistently demanding job security. But stevedore companies are terminating workers at periodic intervals, while recruiting from outside the state to compensate the loss of workforce."

Forty stevedore agencies employ 2,500 skilled workers to handle cargo at the port. However, these workers whose work has made Paradip the country's second biggest port in annual cargo handling are victims of exploitative practices by employers, the workers alleged.

"Our 13-point charter of demands include provisions for port quarters to workers, safety gadgets and emergency and casual leaves to all stevedore workers. We have been persistently raising these demands for a long time. But the stevedore agencies have turned a blind eye to our legitimate demands. Unless our demands are met, we will continue our agitation," said stevedore worker Rajib Nayak.

Fourteen ships are currently berthed at the port and awaiting cargo handling. "The strike has affected operations. We have asked the stevedore agencies to settle the issue for restoration of normal operations," said a Paradip Port Trust official.

"The port trust does not have direct control over the stevedore companies. The port treats them as service providers engaged to handle cargo according to the terms and conditions of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963," he added.

Paradip additional superintendent of police Bishnu Charan Mishra said: "We have tightened security in view of the agitation. No untoward incident has been reported so far."