The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Transport Authority (FTA) have joined forces with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, to protect the rights of all seafarers operating in UAE waters.
The signing agreement, the first of its kind between a government authority and the ITF, took place at the IMO headquarters in London. ITF general secretary, Stephen Cotton, said:
We at the ITF are committed to ensuring seafarers are protected all around the world. This is a significant opportunity to work with our partners in the UAE to bring seafarers and workers’ safety to forefront of the conversation. This agreement is just the beginning and will hopefully pave the way for similar agreements in other territories. We are keen to work for greater cooperation, in all areas of transportation.
Dr. Abdullah Belheif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the FTA Board of Directors, spoke at the event:
This agreement allows us to consult, cooperate and coordinate jointly and continuously to find legal solutions regarding the abandonment of seafarers aboard ships, by ship owners and operators, and to work together to combat and prevent the occurrence of this phenomenon in the future.
The UAE has been criticized several times for being at the centre of seafarer abandonment. In October 2017, the FTA and ITF met to discuss the increasing number of abandonment cases faced by the UAE and the Gulf State’s desire to bring an end to the problem. The parties agreed to develop a protocol to govern a closer working relationship, including increased cooperation and information exchange.
As part of its overall efforts to tackle the issue, the FTA issued a circular, in early 2018, mandating that all ships flying the UAE flag, above 200 gross tons, must have a financial security system to protect seafarers against abandonment, death or injury. The insurance must cover up to four months’ owed wages and entitlements. This measure entered into force in 20 February 2018, as the country entered into Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
