Tag: working conditions

It is observed that seafarers’ work, mental health and life on board have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the definition given by the IMO, Fatigue is a state of feeling tired, weary, or sleepy, due to a prolonged mental or physical work, extended periods of anxiety, exposure to harsh environments, or loss of sleep. This what fatigue is according to IMO, the effects of which significantly affect performance and alertness.

Dutch seafarers facing job cuts at Maersk Line sent a letter to Maersk stakeholders, asking for support and intervention, so that the company ends the forced redundancies. To remind, AP Moller Maersk recently sold its five remaining ships which sail under the Dutch flag. Following the sale, Maersk announced that although Dutch Captains and Chief Engineers will remain in service, 24 Dutch seafarers on the fleet were put out of service.

Having a safe working environment, not only concerning physical hazards, but also psychological hazards is important so that you support the employees. The psychological hazards category is the new kid on the block. Up to now, organizations were aware of the physical hazards. How easy is it to adapt to this new category of wellness and not stick to the traditional one?

The pandemic has radically changed our lives; now everyone wishes for life to restore to normal, but we all know that the post-COVID era will have no resemblance with the past. With the vaccinations now occurring across the globe, health officials are optimistic about the outbreak, but the pandemic won’t be over anytime soon. So what that means for shipping? What changes have been affected and what should we expect in the near and long term?

Following the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 and the major disruptions that has brought within every industry, it is known that more and more people are working remotely, in an effort to slow down the spread of the disease. Although, working from home might be an effective solution amid the pandemic, it has completely changed the way employees work and their overall career progression.

During the 2020 SAFETY4SEA London Forum, Natalie Shaw, Director Employment Affairs, ICS, opened the second panel discussing age discrimination, which is a potential form of unfair treatment at work, given that the age gap between employees in the workplace can now be as much as 50 years.

Nautilus International applauded the enforcement of the 'Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) for fishing' for providing decent working conditions for the fishing industry and protecting those working in the sector. The UK's first report on the Convention is due 1 September 2021.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) informs that two hundred wharfies have stopped work for 24 hours at the Dubai Ports container terminal in Fremantle, accusing the company of failing to bargain in good faith as negotiations for a new workplace agreement drag on for more than 15 months.

Human Rights at Sea published its latest briefing note concerning the exploitative recruitment fees in the maritime industry and further calls for an end to such fees for workers in a call to action. Namely, Human Rights at Sea note that such “misleading and exploitative recruitment practices by some labor recruiters and overseas employment agencies are a continued blight on raising social welfare and human rights standards in the global maritime sector”.