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THEY'RE GOING HOME: The happy crew, who have been in Singapore waters since Jan 14, with SMOU president Robin Foo (in white T-shirt). -- PHOTO: WILFRED THIANG
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A WAGE dispute that saw a crew of 22 Indian nationals being stuck on a ship here since January has been resolved.
Its Greek owner has handed them about US$102,000 (S$141,000) for the three to four months of wages owed. They were also told they would be flown home in the next two weeks.
But a skeletal team is expected to remain behind to look after the cargo ship Lady Belinda, which was detained on March 11 by the Singapore authorities for not being seaworthy.
The row was settled on Saturday after talks between the crew and the ship's representatives, in the presence of Singapore union leaders and an Indian High Commission official here.
Chief officer Ganagalla Ramanamurthy, 34, said the crew were overjoyed at the outcome and grateful for the help they received in Singapore. 'I called my family and told them I'm coming home. My wife is very happy,' he said.
The Lady Belinda, registered in North Korea, had set sail last December from India with 16,300 tonnes of iron ore for China. En route, the ship's engine broke down and it was towed to Singapore for repairs. It arrived here on Jan 14.
Since then, the ship's crew have been fighting for their pay, claiming they were owed four months of wages, totalling US$109,000.
They sought help from the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU). The Indian High Commission here also offered its help after The Straits Times reported on their plight two weeks ago.
On Saturday, SMOU president Robin Foo and Indian High Commission officer S. Subbu attended the meeting between the crew and a representative from Athens-based ship manager Blue Fleet Management. Eight crewmen, set to fly home today, were paid in full. The others got their salaries up to Feb 29, with the balance to be given to them before they return home.
Captain Foo said affiliates of the International Transport Workers' Federation in Greece had also been in talks with the ship's owner to ensure the crew were paid. On SMOU's part, he said it will write to the owner to stress, among other things, that the cost of the crew's air tickets should not be deducted from their pay. He added: 'Hopefully, the owner will fulfil its obligations as the crew have to send money home.'
In an e-mail to The Straits Times, Blue Fleet Management managing director Roy Khoury said the owner will pay for the air tickets and wages owed in full. He also said the ship will be repaired for departure in the next seven days.
chinlian@sph.com.sg
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