The Seamen’s Provident Fund Organisation looks after the Seamen’s Provident Fund Scheme which was framed under the Seamen’s Provident Fund Act, 1966 ( 4 of 1966 ). The Act was introduced retrospectively w.e.f. 1st July, 1964 to provide for the institution of a Provident Fund for all Seamen. To administer the Provident Fund Scheme, the office of the Seamen’s Provident Fund Commissioner was established on the 9th July , 1966.
On Monday, 11th January 2021, the Board of Trustees of the Seamens’ Provident Fund at their 137th meeting, under the Chairmanship of Amitabh Kumar, Director General of Shipping, agreed in principle, to extend the benefit of provident fund, gratuity and pension to all ranks of more than four lakh merchant navy seafarers working on foreign going vessels, home trade vessels, offshore vessels, tug boats and cruise ships of Indian and foreign flag.
Up until now, seafarers working on Indian flag ships were getting provident fund benefits as per the exclusive Seamens’ Provident Fund Act, 1966.
But, Indian crew working on foreign flag ships were excluded from the ambit of the act and denied provident fund, gratuity and pension benefits.
The law will be amended to facilitate the change approved by the Board of Trustees of the Seamens’ Provident Fund said Abdulgani Serang, General Secretary-cum-Treasurer of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI).
The Maritime Union of India (MUI) had asked for petitions from all seafarers asking for implementation of the above benefits and had received an over whelming response, said Amar Singh Thakur, General Secretary of The Maritime Union of India (MUI) A formal decision is expected since the proposal is now being placed before the Parliament by the Ministry of Shipping for final approval.
Maritime Outlook 