Following the challenge arising by the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Transport Workers’ Federation issued a letter to the European Commission, outlining the risks of the coronavirus to the transport workers and a contingency plan to remedy this.
In the beginning of the letter, the ETF highlights that
In addition to the elements that we have flagged up in our previous letters, I would like draw your attention to the fact that we are getting reports from around Europe that some employers are not taking the situation seriously and are putting workers in danger.
Although the Federation mentions several sectors of transport workers, they also focus on the maritime sector, noting that “the various travel restrictions and quarantine measures being put in place around the world are impacting repatriation home of seafarers at the end of their services.”
They added that seafarers’ rights to annual leave must be protected, and seafarers must be paid for the extension of their service periods on board.
Moreover, it is stated that traffic by sea between specific locations has now been stopped completely (e.g. between Spain and Italy/Morocco). Therefore, their affiliates have reported to them that in some cases, this meant that the crew could not leave the ship.
When this happens, both competent authorities and shipowners need to take a responsible, pragmatic approach upholding the basic rights to decent working and living conditions and do everything in their power to ensure that the seafarers can return home as soon as possible and that special measures are taken to protect their health and safety.
The Federation also receives reports from around Europe showing that some employers are not taking the pandemic seriously, and are putting workers in danger with their failure to act appropriately.
Consequently, seeing the difficulties that the workers have to deal with, the Federation reports that urgent action is needed to mitigate the rapid prevention.
However, in the current context transport services should be kept to what is strictly needed for supplying essential goods and to ensure essential passenger transport. What is not needed should be put on hold, and compensation measures should be implemented.
You may also see the FAQs issued by Nautilus concerning how are seafarers to deal with any possible seafarers’ employment agreement disruptions.
For more details on the letter, click herebelow
