In a series of shocking revelations, the crew members of an International vessel were forced to pay $1500 to receive employment and this has raised concerns of “unlawful” practices within the international seafarer industry.
What happened?
The Chinese-owned vessel ‘Mandarin Fortune’ currently docked at the Gladstone’s Auckland Point Wharf has been accused of gross misconduct by the Maritime Union of Australia.
Mr.Bob Carnegie, Branch Secretary, MUA Queensland alleged that the crew were forced to pay $1500 to work on the vessel for nine months, with a monthly salary of $300.
He said their suspicions for unlawful behaviour on board were raised when the captain refused entry to an International Transport Federation inspector in Gladstone.
Gross misconduct
Mr.Carnegie said, “It’s unlawful and we will not stand idly by and allow companies to deny ITF inspectors their rightful place to walk up a gangway of a foreign vessel to see if crews are being paid as per their certified agreement states”.
An AMSA spokesperson said, “One of our inspectors boarded the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier on Monday for a routine check. They found while payment of wages was compliant, the crew had not received statements. They also found two crew members paid a fee to a manning agent to join the ship”.
Crew repaid
The spokesperson assured that the claims are being investigated and the fees were being repaid to the crew members. AMSA will conduct another inspection of the ship before it departs to confirm the crew received their dues.
Mr Carnegie said, “The issue highlighted a broader problem plaguing the international seafarer industry, of low wages and poor conditions making it impossible for Aussie ships to compete on costs. Workers are getting paid less than $3 per hour on these ships. They come in, take goods out of this country and give us nothing except leaving a pile of exploitation in its wake”.
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Source: The Observer
