Sat Sep 27 04:03:54 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Visakhapatnam Port Workers Protest Privatization of Hospital, Bonus Delay**

**Visakhapatnam, India – September 27, 2025** – The Water Transport Workers’ Federation is strongly opposing a proposal to develop the Golden Jubilee Hospital (GJH) of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Federation General Secretary T. Narendra Rao voiced concerns that privatizing the hospital would negatively impact retired VPA employees, who heavily rely on the GJH for healthcare.

“Private investors would treat retired employees as second-class citizens,” Rao stated during a press conference today. He emphasized the VPA’s responsibility to maintain the hospital for its employees, particularly given the declining workforce due to retirements and a freeze on new hires.

In addition to the hospital concerns, Rao criticized the VPA management for the delayed announcement of employee bonuses, despite the Central Cabinet’s approval of a 78-day bonus for railway employees. The revised scheme for port workers was approved in October 2024. The delay has angered port workers.

Further fueling discontent is a discrepancy in the minimum guaranteed work days for cargo handling workers. While VPA workers are guaranteed only 16 days, other major ports in India offer a minimum of 21 days.

CITU leaders K. Satyanarayana, B. Lakshmana Rao, and Ganesh were present at the press conference, signaling broader support for the workers’ demands. The situation highlights growing tensions between the VPA management and its workforce, as workers fight for better conditions and benefits.

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