Over 96% of respondents wanted to have more information on their legal rights
The vast majority of seafarers want to know about their legal rights, according to a large-scale survey published by Seafarers Rights International (SRI). The research, carried out by the Working Lives Research Institute, was based on survey responses from more than 1,000 seafarers from 58 nations on ships visiting European ports.
The survey found that over 96% of respondents wanted to have more information on their legal rights. However, a quarter of respondents also revealed that they would be reluctant to seek legal advice about their work because of the consequences for their employment and their families.
The main reasons given for seeking legal advice were contract disputes (30%) and personal injury (26%), as well as unpaid wages, shore leave, abandonment, criminal charges, discrimination, and piracy.
SRI executive director Deirdre Fitzpatrick, who is the ITFs legal officer, said: Seafarers do not have the same protections as land-based workers and often find it difficult or impossible to understand if the law can help them and how to access that help.
The SRI was launched last September at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization and is backed by the ITF Seafarers Trust.
Source: ITF
