Over 50,000 workers at India’s 12 major ports are set to receive a productivity bonus of nearly 15 per cent of their annual wages.

The productivity-linked reward (PLR) has been set at 14.67 per cent for the year for 2011 to 2012. In addition workers will also receive the PLR for 2010 to 2011 at the rate of 16.30 per cent, after adjusting the ad-hoc payment, which had already been disbursed last year.

The annual bonus, which has been approved by India’s Ministry of Shipping, is normally announced before the onset of the festival season in India, which is around the month of October.

Announcing the news SR Kulkarni, president of the All India Port & Dock Workers Federation, and chair of the ITF Asia-Pacific dockers’ committee, commented: “This achievement has been made possible due to the solidarity and unity of all the Indian port and dock workers.”