New Zealand’s Prime Minister issued a public policy statement, intending to amend the Maritime Transport Act 1994 to enable the existing maritime levy to fund the services required for seafarers’ wellbeing, reflecting the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
This comes following persistent in-country advocacy by welfare organisations, supported by the publication in April 2020 of the Human Rights at Sea independent report “New Zealand: Under-Funding of Seafarers’ Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance“, which found, among others, that seafarers’ shore facilities and services are inadequate and at Akaroa there is no seafarers’ centre at all.
Under the Maritime Labour Convention New Zealand has an obligation to provide for crews who come ashore in New Zealand but this is currently funded largely through charitable sources which isn’t sufficient to provide adequate facilities. Labour will ensure that Seafarer Welfare Centres provide services to the level required by the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 by amending the Maritime Transport Act 1994 to enable the maritime levy to fund the services required for seafarers’ wellbeing,
…said the NZ Labour Government in its end-of-the-year manifesto for Workplace Relations and Safety.
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In close co-ordination, Human Rights at Sea has been supported by the Welfare Board and further, it has engaged directly with the Office of the Honorable Phil Twyford, Minister for Economic Development, to ensure that the policy statement reflected the need of the welfare providers.
Meanwhile, the supporting legal engagement of commercial shipping Counsel, James M. Turner QC and Stephanie Barrett of Quadrant Chambers, London, is independently assessing the HRAS report.
The amendment of the New Zealand Maritime Act 1994 will be a momentous change, but also a precedent to be reviewed and we hope, followed internationally, thereby reinforcing the need for human rights at sea, as well as on land,
…stated HRAS CEO, David Hammond.
Now, Human Rights at Sea and welfare providers will be watching closely the effect of the manifesto pledge to ensure no delay in the legislative change.