Following a concerning rise of shipowners abandoning their vessels and crew, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has helped recover more than $1.7 million in owned wages to seafarers.
Namely, since June 2020, the federation along with its national union affiliates have assisted more than 135 seafarers across 12 ships in the Arab World to return to their families across the globe.
In light of the above, Mohamed Arrachedi is the ITF’s Arab World and Iran Network coordinator, stated:
Cases of abandonment and unpaid wages are definitely on the rise across the world, and in this region in particular. We’re also seeing more employers withholding the wages they owe to seafarers – and seafarers are paying the price.
According to the ITF, a major factor behind the increase of vessels and seafarers’ abandonment is the crew change crisis.
As explained, due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the cost of international flights, employers are cutting their losses and abandoning their obligations towards seafarers, while often folding their business with seafarers still onboard and thousands of dollars out of pocket.
What is more, Mohamed Arrachedi noted that many seafarers are often concerned about the consequences of arguing with their employer over matters like pay, even if they suspect or know that they are being cheated.
Firstly, blacklisting or the banning of seafarers by shipowners and their recruiting agents from future employment opportunities, is still thought to be widespread in the industry. Seafarers are worried that if they speak up, they won’t get another contract.
…Arrachedi added.
Concluding, ITF stated that crewmembers worry that an angry shipowner could defer or deny them repatriation as punishment for raising concern over unpaid wages.
