Following the still unresolved crew change crisis, major shipping and labour stakeholders jointly issued a statement urging all United Nations Member States to take action and find a solution.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), ILO and FAO issued a publication which provide guidances to policy and decision-makers and other stakeholders in the fisheries, maritime, and labour sectors with a view to promote ratification and implementation of the fisheries instruments.
ILO has issued a revised version of its information note on maritime labour issues and COVID-19 note including a joint statement of the Officers of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention.
On the occasion of UK’s Seafarers Awareness Week, maritime charity Seafarers UK noted a lack of reliable source of information about suicides at sea. In this regard, the charity urged the ILO to consider steps in line with MLC, to ensure that all seafarer suicides are accurately identified.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has called for urgent and coordinated action to release the 150,000 to 200,000 seafarers trapped on board ships around the world due to measures to contain the COVID-19 virus.
Among major business disruptions, the pandemic impacts the safety and well-being of seafarers and fishers, their ability to join their vessels and return home, and the future of their jobs. As of mid-April, the volume of global merchandise trade was falling by 13%, and there are estimates of a decline of 32% or more, WTO estimates.
Similar to their male co-workers, women also feel isolated or lonely at sea. This may be exacerbated if they are the only woman onboard or they face gender-based discrimination due to forming part of a male-dominated industry.
In light of the challenging situations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Labour Organization (ILO) issued a joint statement highlighting that seafarers should be exempted from travel restrictions and be treated as “key workers”.
The UK Department of Transport have sent a letter to the ILO, IMO, and WHO, in regards to the UK’s commitment to seafarer welfare during the current COVID-19 pandemic and how they plan to facilitate seafarer transit and transfer to keep world trade moving.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an economic and labour crisis that could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million, according to a new assessment by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
