No more excuses for denying seafarers their rights
Nautilus International, the Union for maritime professionals, has welcomed a ruling by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that found governments have breached seafarers’ rights and failed to comply with several provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The landmark ruling from the ILO, the first of its kind, sent a strong message to governments that they have failed in their duty of care towards seafarers under international law, including basic rights such as access to healthcare, repatriation, annual leave and shore leave.
Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson said: ‘The ILO Committee of Experts has sent a welcome and an unequivocal message to states that have ratified the MLC – there are no longer any excuses for denying seafarers their rights to repatriation, shore leave, and access to medical care ashore.
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15 December 2020 10:04 GMT Updated 15 December 2020 13:12 GMT
The holiday season is approaching fast for much of the world’s population and will be an opportunity for many to spend time with family and friends. But for thousands of seafarers, the ongoing crew-change crisis deprives them even of the hope of being home in time for the holidays.
Many governments have responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by closing their borders and banning seafarers from coming ashore, even for medical treatment in some cases. These restrictions have led to many of the world’s seafarers becoming trapped working aboard cargo vessels well beyond the expiry of the initial contracts they signed up for.
INTERCARGO calls for seafarers to receive COVID-19 vaccine as a priority
Following the worldwide news that vaccines for COVID-19 are now a reality, it is paramount that authorities give priority to seafarers in their vaccination programmes, says INTERCARGO, the organisation representing the world’s quality dry bulk shipowners.
“As key workers, seafarers should be included in the early stages of a nation’s vaccination programme,” says INTERCARGO Chairman Dimitris Fafalios.
“As a key element in the drive to reboot the world’s economy, seafarers should receive vaccinations quickly and efficiently. We welcome new initiatives from national authorities and industry bodies to facilitate this and urge that these new initiatives be brought forward and trialled as a matter of urgency, so that seafarers can once again travel safely between their home and their ships, and under take port operations without the fear of infection.”