The ITF pointed out that the creation of informal settlements like Banna Mazdoor Basti is directly linked to the informalization of labor at the port following changes to the Dock Labour Act in 2007…reports Asian Lite News
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), a UK-based global union for transport workers, has condemned the recent demolition of an informal settlement in Gujarat, India, which has left thousands of port workers and fishers homeless.
In a letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Gujarat state government, and the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), the ITF has urged authorities to take immediate action to assist the estimated 2,500 workers who were displaced by the demolition.
The incident took place in the early hours of September 5 when over 600 huts were razed in the Banna Mazdoor Basti settlement, which is located near Kandla Port. According to ITF, many of the residents in the settlement have lived there for generations, contributing to the operations of India’s largest public sector port. ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton expressed deep concern over the displacement, criticizing the demolition as a “shocking act” that was justified by what he called dubious claims of security concerns.
“The residents of this settlement have played an integral role in supporting the growth of India’s economy by working at the port,” Cotton said, adding that it is the duty of both the Deendayal Port Authority and the Indian government to protect the dignity and human rights of these workers.
The ITF pointed out that the creation of informal settlements like Banna Mazdoor Basti is directly linked to the informalization of labor at the port following changes to the Dock Labour Act in 2007. As a result, many workers were left without stable housing or employment protections.
ITF affiliate Shri Kutch General Mazdoor Sangh (SKGMS) is actively involved in monitoring the situation and assisting the displaced workers. The federation has called on the Indian government to provide compensation and resettlement for the affected workers, in line with Indian law, and has urged the DPA to halt any further demolitions of similar settlements.
ITF President Paddy Crumlin described the demolitions as an “outrageous attack” on the rights of port workers and fishers, emphasizing that the ITF and its global network would continue to advocate for justice until the workers receive adequate compensation and are resettled. He added that tearing down homes without providing alternative housing is unacceptable and that immediate action is needed to resolve the crisis.
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