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           Shipping Stevedoring Port Services Hydrocarbons Diving  Jul-Aug 2008        |
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Seafarers' Bill of Rights poised to become law22 February 2006By MUA News -
MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin addresses ILO forum as government, unions and industry leaders reach historic agreement on world seafarers' rights The International Labour Organisation (ILO) "super convention" for the world's 1.2m seafarers will be adopted in Geneva tomorrow after international shipowners,union and government representatives reached an agreement on a draft final text earlier this week. ILO director-general, Juan Somavia, describes the new convention as "an effective, modern and global response for a truly global industry, assuring better protection of workers, a level playing field for shipowners and an effective instrument for governments,in sum, greater clarity, productivity, safety and security for all." MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin addressed the final plenary session spokesperson for the world's seafarers group on Monday in his position of Vice Chairperson of the Workers' Group, Maritime Session, ILC. He spoke of the stark reality of seafaring life where lives and work are beyond the physical boundaries of territory. "Many of the flags that fly from the sterns of those seafarers' ships reflect business opportunity not national responsibility," he said. "Seafarers' lives are often marred by crushing exploitation, savage intimidation and life and limb threatening neglect." Mr Crumlin recounted recent cases of exploitation and abuse in Australian and international waters. His speech was well received except by a number of those representing FoC states and flags covering sub standard shipping. The Seafarers' Bill of Rights will bring together 60-plus existing conventions and require ships of a certain size to carry a labour certificate. Ships will also be subject to port-state control inspections. "The bill is without a doubt one of the most important developments in the shipping industry since the international regualation on safety and survival at sea and related standards made possible through the formation of the International Maritime Organisation," said Mr Crumlin. "The frank assessment on the standards of labour regulation prevailing in the industry and the detrimental and often life threatening effect they have on seafarers was welcomed by the majority of countries present." Mr Crumlin attacked the deregulation of national labour standards as assisting the race to the bottom and feeding the dysfunctionality and instability not only in the shipping industry but also more broadly. He welcomed the involvement of the Australian Government in the ILO process especially as Canberra had "adopted a dramatically and controversially different policy path to labour deregulation for a number of years" He called on all governments to set ideology aside on such a critical issue of seafarers rights. The full speech can be downloaded below.
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