New Delhi, Sept 27 : The retirement age of employees of the major port trusts and dock labour boards has been extended from 58 to 60 years with effect from September 30, 2007, benefiting 66,000 dock and port workers across the country.

The enactment of the proposal for enhancing the retirement age came after getting the approval from Union Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T.R. Baalu.

Baalu gave the green signal following the discussions with the representatives of five major federations of port and dock workers on September 12 following which the federations agreed to unilaterally withdraw the two references pending before the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central).

The Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) confirmed to the Ministry that the federations have agreed to withdraw unilaterally the strike notice and the relevant dispute pending with the CLC during the conciliation proceedings initiated by it. (With inputs from ANI)