The Indian Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948 serves as a basis for this chapter on Dock Labour Establishments. This law essentially works to ensure regular employment of workers in the Docks and Harbours. Most countries have their own Dock Labour laws that safeguard the interests of the dock workers in their own country.
A Dock Worker is a person employed or to be employed in, or in the vicinity of any port on work in connection with the loading, unloading, movement or storage of cargoes, or work in connection with the preparation of ships or other vessels for the receipt or discharge of cargoes or leaving Port.
An Employer in relation to a dock worker, is the person by whom he is employed or to be employed as explained in the above definition. A Dock Labour Board (DLB) functions in association with the port or harbour administration to regularise the employment of dock labour. Thus a DLB is the establishment that implements the Dock Labour Law.
The law provisions for several schemes for the registration or dock workers and employers with a view to ensuring greater regularity of employment and for regulating the employment of dock workers whether registered or not in a Port. It is important to note that the law is clear about circumstances or conditions subject to which the employees and employers will enjoy the application of the law, meaning that there could be obligations to both parties.
