Tag: ITF

The International Transport Workers’ Federation urges the Government of Papua New Guinea to rethink the decision to award 25-year contracts at the country's two biggest ports to International Container Terminal Services Inc.

“For the ITF, this means a potential sea change for transport workers, in aviation, in ports, and in public transport. We will now work within this agreement to build protection for them as workers, with good, sustainable jobs, recognising international standards and best practice,” ITF stated.

The United Arab Emirates Federal Transport Authority and the International Transport Workers' Federation agreed to develop a protocol to govern a closer working relationship, including increased cooperation and information exchange, in a bid to tackle abandonment cases in UAE waters.

The decision was made due to several violation cases of seafarers' collective agreements and of ILO Convention 137 in the port. In response, Port of Oslo and the City Government in Oslo organized a dialogue meeting on 13 October, focusing on the fight against social dumping.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has banned the Panama-flagged bulk carrier DL Carnation for 12 months, after the vessel was discovered keeping two sets of wage accounts, covering up the underpayment of crew.

Human Rights at Sea informed that all 16 of the former crew of the MV Liberty Prrudencia were repatriated home on 23 July 2017 and that their wages have been finally paid, after the charity and other organisations were first alerted to their plight in February of this year.

The Australian Senate inquiry finds flag of convenience shipping poses risks to national security. FOC shipping refers to international trading vessels registered in tax havens such as Liberia, Panama and the Marshall Islands and are renowned for their lax labour laws, poor investment controls and lack of ownership oversight. 

The ITF Seafarers’ Trust addresses a call for Expressions of Interest for collaborating centres, to undertake research into suicide among seafarers. The research targets to encourage the industry to take steps to reduce mental distress and its serious consequences in seafarers, and to ensure that seafarers suffering from mental ill-health are not stigmatised.

Earlier this June, the ITF released an updated version of its guide for seafarers to the ILO Maritime Labour Convention incorporating latest amendments. This landmark Convention gives to seafarers the right for a safe and secure workplace, where safety standards are complied with, where they have fair terms of employment and decent living and working conditions.

The ITF, SUR and MTWTU are urging for a fast but reasoned response to the kidnapping of eight crew members of the BBC Caribbean in the Gulf of Guinea.