- Nautilus International has condemned the refusal of shipowners to approve a standard pay uplift for seafarers as ‘disgraceful’.
- The ILO Minimum Wage for Seafarers is a long-established mechanism to prevent seafarers worldwide from being exploited.
- It ensures that their wages are tied to inflation, so that their purchasing power is not diluted over time.
- This year, the proposed US$1.40 per day pay rise from the rate agreed in 2018 represents less than the price of a cup of coffee.
A Nautilus news report says that shipowners’ pay cut demands a ‘slap in the face’ for seafarers.
Extraordinary decision by seafarers union
On Tuesday 28 April seafarers’ unions took the extraordinary decision to shut down pay discussions at the International Labour Organization (ILO), after shipowners represented by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) demanded that the industry ditch the established practice of using objective ILO minimum wage calculations before they would approve any pay rise.
The ILO Minimum Wage for Seafarers is a long-established mechanism to prevent seafarers worldwide from being exploited.
It ensures that their wages are tied to inflation, so that their purchasing power is not diluted over time.
Shipping rates at all-time highs
Meanwhile international shipping rates are at all-time highs and most shipowners have performed well financially during the Covid-19 pandemic, even as seafarers have battled with exhaustion and overwork during the crew change crisis.
Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson, who acts as Seafarers Group spokesperson at the ILO and vice-chair of the Seafarers’ Section of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said:
“For only the second time in the long history of these negotiations the shipowners and the seafarers have failed to agree a revised minimum wage for seafarers That’s wholly the fault of the shipowners, who have behaved with such an astounding lack of self-awareness and a lack of respect for the sacrifices of seafarers – especially these past 14 months.”
More from Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson
- Seafarers are heroes of the pandemic.
- They have sacrificed time and again.
- They have literally risked their lives so that these companies could survive Covid-19 and its economic effects.
- And now the thanks they get is a slap in the face from the shipowners who are essentially making them choose between pay cuts now or pay cuts later. It’s disgraceful.
‘Unlike the shipowners we will respect and keep faith with the ILO formula, which is fair and objective,’ said Mr Dickinson.
A visionary plan
The revised ILO minimum wage for an able seafarer is a minimum of US$683 per month from the first of January 2022 and we will advise our affiliates and the ILO Governing Body accordingly.
To engage robustly with industry stakeholders and wider society to promulgate our views.
To use the extensive networks and media profile established during the crew change crisis to support our campaign for pay fairness for seafarers.
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Source : Nautilus
