ITF campaign against errant shipowner

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), together with its affiliates in six Asean countries including Malaysia, will conduct a week-long campaign to book errant shipowners who flout labour laws and exploit their workers.
Its local coordinator A. Balasubramaniam said the campaign, from Jan 9, 2012, would cover major ports in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia.
“During the campaign, members of the affiliate unions will check on vessels registered in countries which have very lax registration requirements detrimental to seafarers,” he told Bernama.
Balasubramaniam, who is also vice-president of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, said these “flag of convenience ships” were registered in the countries with lax regulations and not in the owners’ countries.
“It is cheaper and they are able to escape the health and safety and labour regulations of their home country.
“Among them are Panama, Bahamas and Barbados,” he said.
Balasubramaniam said that two years ago, the ITF conducted a similar campaign where it checked 398 vessels and recovered over RM1.5mil in outstanding wages for the crew.
“The campaign will also highlight the plights of port workers in a number of countries where jobs and work conditions are being eroded,” he said.

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