250 shipyard workers opt for early retirement

About 250 workers out of the 900 who are to be transferred from the shipyards have already applied for early retirement under one of four schemes offered to them on Saturday, sources said yesterday.

The sources said that although the closing date for applications for early retirement had been extended by a week to November 21, past experience showed that the bulk of applications was normally received early.

However, the sources said they were still expecting more workers to take up the schemes.

The sources added that the management of the 'yards had received 450 requests from workers asking for an explanation on the assessment process carried out by the management in their regard.

The assessment was made by the management in terms of criteria agreed with the union as part of the selection of the 900 workers who have been offered early retirement or alternative public sector jobs.

"The requests came from both among the group of 900 workers as well as the 1,600 who have been retained."

The management is compiling the requested information, which will be mailed directly to the workers.

The sources said the two lists were drawn up by line managers who made a very comprehensive assessment of each employee.

They said the situation at the 'yards was gradually returning to normal but productivity was very low at the beginning of the week due to anxiety among workers.

On Wednesday, the GWU said the period during which the 900 workers could apply for early retirement had been extended. The extension was granted by the government following a union request.

Those who refuse early retirement will be grouped within a new company called Industrial Projects and Services Ltd and offered alternative employment.

The union on Tuesday filed a judicial protest urging the government to investigate the manner used to select the 900 workers removed from the shipyards' workforce.

The GWU also said employees opting for the early retirement schemes would be paid for their pending leave and shipyard workers transferred to Industrial and Projects Ltd would carry their pending leave with them.