Maritime Union of India (MUI) and National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) have sought tax exemptions the Finance Ministry and requested CBDT chief to issue a notifications to Indian seafarers serving Indian or foreign flag-ships outside India for a period of 182 days or more in a year in this regard.
MUI and NUSI leaders have sought appointments with Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and MoS Finance Arjun Meghwal to submit a 'study paper' on behalf of the seafarers that contribute 7 per cent share to the global maritime workforce.
“Around 1.3 lakh Indian seafarers who sail outside India for over 181 days in a year earn foreign exchange worth around $40 million annually. It's a huge contribution to India's exchequer and they should be accorded an ‘NRI status’, and their income earned overseas should be not be taxed in India,” said MUI General Secretary Amar Singh Thakur.