The Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) standing for companies and also the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) standing for seafarers unions and also their participants invite the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Circular Letter (No4204/Add14) that was provided recently on the 5 May 2020 to all IMO Member States, United Nations, and also specialized companies, Inter- governmental and also Non- governmental companies in consultatory standing with IMO.
The round letter supplies a structure of procedures to make sure staff modifications can be done securely and also immediately, whilst valuing the considerable obstacles encountering the worldwide maritime market caused by Covid -19. The letter likewise highlights the essential yet typically unidentified and also forgot circumstances of the seafarers and also the vital function they play on the planet economic situation and also to our culture; to wit;
“Shipping is vital to the maintenance of global supply chains, but the current situation is unsustainable for the safety and wellbeing of the ship crew and the safe operation of maritime trade. Each month about 150,000 seafarers need to be changed over to and from the ships which they operate to ensure compliance with international maritime regulations for ensuring safety, crew health and welfare, and the prevention of fatigue.”
Image Credits: itfglobal.org
Previously, as liable social companions, the JNG (including International Maritime Employers Council, International Mariners Management Association of Japan, Korean Shipowners Association and also Evergreen) and also the ITF( standing for 215 seafarers unions and also their 1 million participants) concurred two times to prolong the seafarers’ agreements in order to maintain them risk-free from direct exposure to Covid -19 as well as likewise valuing the outrage of the obstacles this worldwide pandemic positions in regards to traveling limitations and also trips schedule. Consequently, a substantial variety of seafarers have actually been called for to remain on board past their employment agreement duration while others are waiting to be released to make sure that they can join their ships and also remain to work.
In conversations recently, JNG and also ITF concurred that the existing scenario in relation to absence of staff modification can no more proceed given that this can be harmful to the wellness and also health and wellbeing of the seafarers, placing them in jeopardy in addition to the atmosphere and also the worldwide supply chain. Seafarers’ tiredness must not be undervalued and also the social companions, consequently, accepted not prolong the agreements yet to sustain an application duration of no more than thirty days (up till 15 June 2020) to make sure that federal governments have time to apply the structure of procedures as laid out in the IMO Circular Letter.
Therefore, the celebrations have actually concurred:
- To sustain a shift duration for federal governments and also companies to apply the IMO provided structure of procedures, permitting approximately thirty days beginning with 15 May 2020 to make sure risk-free assistance of staff modifications occurs;
- Those firms will certainly take into consideration, if monetarily feasible and also feasible, to monetarily recognize every seafarer whose employment agreement has actually ended, yet that has actually remained to function;
- Those firms will certainly take into consideration, if monetarily feasible and also feasible, to offer seafarers waiting to be released an advancement income repayment;
- Those firms will, where feasible, offer seafarers with added data transfer and also net accessibility to be able to connect with residence; and also
- That, when staff modification begins, those seafarers that have actually been on-board the lengthiest will certainly be prioritised and also repatriated initial no matter ranking.
Finally, the ITF and also the JNG intend to signal Flag States, P&I Clubs, Operators and also Charterers that, in case of the Framework of Protocols for Crew Change not working by mid-June 2020, the effect of anxiety relevant health issues influencing seafarers and also their failure to regularly access clinical assistance onto land might adversely effect on the industrial stability of the ship procedures.
Click here to view/download – Circular Letter No.4204/Add.14 ( 5 May 2020)–Coronavirus (COVID-19)– Recommended structure of procedures for making sure risk-free ship staff modifications and also traveling throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Reference: itfglobal.org
