Trade unions from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) resolved to support the promotion and growth of the Sri Lankan maritime industry. The Maritime Roundtable also gathered young activists to establish networks and increase the organising capacity of dockers’ and seafarers’ unions.
About 400 trade unionists from around the world came together in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for ITF’s Maritime Roundtable on September 16-19 and ITF’s Worldwide Inspectors’ Seminar on September 22-25.
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This week, ITF coordinators, inspectors and contacts are meeting to give emphasis on retool the ITF Inspectorate, as well as realign the objectives of the Flags of Convenience (FoC), Ports of Convenience (PoC) and other priority campaigns.
In addition, representatives from IMEC were invited and took part in a panel discussion on the International Bargaining Forum along with elected officers of the ITF seafarers’ section committee.
ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton, commented on the occasion:
As an island nation, seafaring will always be crucial for Sri Lanka, and given the country’s strategic location in terms of global trade routes, Sri Lankan seafarers are very compatible with other nationalities
He added that Sri Lanka is the first country in the world where ITF is pioneering health and wellbeing training for maritime cadets, along with the National Union of Sri Lankan Seafarers and the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College.
I commend the National Union of Sri Lankan Seafarers for promoting and supporting its members and working with companies to ensure job opportunities for Sri Lankan seafarers. I hope more companies invest in Sri Lankan seafarers as part of their manning pool
Mr. Cotton concluded.
