Seafarers’ Rights
Since 1920, the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
of the United Nations has adopted numerous maritime labour
Conventions and Recommendations. These aimed to guarantee
acceptable standards in areas such as recruitment of
seafarers; working hours and wages; health and safety
onboard; and welfare and social security. Unfortunately many
of these Conventions had little force in international law
as certain signatory countries failed to ratify them.
In February 2006, the Consolidated Maritime Labour
Convention was adopted by the ILO. This brings together the
issues covered by various earlier Conventions. The
Consolidated Convention represents significant progress in
the field of seafarers’ rights. In order to be effective,
the Convention must be ratified by at least 30 ILO member
States with a combined share of the world gross tonnage of
33%.
Difficulties with contracts
Despite the existence of contracts and a compulsory
minimum wage, seafarers often encounter problems. These
include illegal demands for placement fees, delayed
payments, contract substitution onboard, early termination
of contract, endless litigation on compensation, age-limit
restrictions, blacklisting, and unnecessary retraining
demands.
In the words of Fr Savino Bernardi, Director of AOS
Manila:
In the ultimate analysis, a seafaring contract is mostly
hanging on a thin thread of good luck, good health, good
records and submission to a system that is less than fair.
Life at Sea
Generally, a contract onboard a merchant ship lasts for
nine to twelve months. The crew comprises around 18 to 25
seafarers of various nationalities. At its worst, life
onboard is harsh, lonely, and dangerous. Work can become a
monotonous routine and recreational facilities are limited.
Language and cultural barriers may cause divisions among the
crew. Discipline and authority are often strictly enforced,
sometimes unreasonably.
Working with machinery and chemicals; lack of nutritious
food; and insufficient space for exercise all threaten the
health and safety of seafarers. Sickness and injury mean an
end to future employment at sea.
There are no full records of deaths at sea kept by
any organisation. It is believed that 3 seafarers die
everyday at sea,
- 1 suicide
- 1 natural death
- 1 work accident
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