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Nautilus International has expressed concern about a move by Panama to exclude merchant navy cadets from the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC).
The union is challenging a circular issued to shipowners by the Panama Maritime Authority containing a list of personnel that the registry ? the world?s biggest ? does not consider to be seafarers, under the terms of the MLC.
It includes cadets, superintendents, armed guards, specialist offshore technicians and ?any other person or category of persons as indicated by the Administration?.
The MLC ? known as the seafarers? bill of rights ? defines seafarer as ?any person, including the master, who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity onboard a ship?.
?We don?t accept that cadets should be excluded from the MLC and we are appalled that Panama is seeking to argue that they are not considered seafarers,? said Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson.
?The convention was drawn up with the specific intention of ensuring that anyone working at sea is covered by the protection it provides ? and the definition of seafarer was agreed on the clear basis of including hotel staff, entertainers and riding gangs ? indeed, anyone working onboard for any significant period.
?It is very disappointing that the world?s biggest ship registry is already seeking to undermine the agreed aims and ambition of the MLC and we are actively challenging Panama?s interpretation,? Mr Dickinson added.
?We have requested the International Transport Workers? Federation to raise this matter formally with the International Labour Organisation.?
27/08/2013
The union is challenging a circular issued to shipowners by the Panama Maritime Authority containing a list of personnel that the registry ? the world?s biggest ? does not consider to be seafarers, under the terms of the MLC.
It includes cadets, superintendents, armed guards, specialist offshore technicians and ?any other person or category of persons as indicated by the Administration?.
The MLC ? known as the seafarers? bill of rights ? defines seafarer as ?any person, including the master, who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity onboard a ship?.
?We don?t accept that cadets should be excluded from the MLC and we are appalled that Panama is seeking to argue that they are not considered seafarers,? said Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson.
?The convention was drawn up with the specific intention of ensuring that anyone working at sea is covered by the protection it provides ? and the definition of seafarer was agreed on the clear basis of including hotel staff, entertainers and riding gangs ? indeed, anyone working onboard for any significant period.
?It is very disappointing that the world?s biggest ship registry is already seeking to undermine the agreed aims and ambition of the MLC and we are actively challenging Panama?s interpretation,? Mr Dickinson added.
?We have requested the International Transport Workers? Federation to raise this matter formally with the International Labour Organisation.?
27/08/2013
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