A major new report titled “Charting the Distinct Rights of Sea Workers in European Waters: A Focus on Decent Working Time”, was released by the World Maritime University (WMU) on 27 May. Commissioned by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the study is primarily driven by the differential treatment of sea workers compared with land-based workers, which has resulted in their exclusion from several EU directives and in working and living conditions that fall below general labour standards. The report highlights major gaps between the labour protections afforded to sea workers and those enjoyed by land-based workers across Europe.
Livia Spera, ETF General Secretary said, “The key findings of the WMU report were not surprising, but are still shocking. We’ve said most of this before, but now it is time to look at the root causes and act. ETF strongly believes that the coming discussions at the ILO IMO Joint tripartite WG represent a critical opportunity for needed regulatory reforms, including the MLC and STCW regimes in rest/work hours. The EU could and should take a leadership role in supporting and promoting stronger international protections for sea workers. A sustainable maritime sector requires that sustainability, competitiveness and labour standards advance together.”
Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., President of the World Maritime University said, “The report reviews and examines gaps between maritime working time standards and the ILO’s and EU’s reference framework for other workers. The labor regulatory framework for seafarers must ensure a safe and decent workplace at sea supported by, among other things, scientifically-informed and clearly-articulated working time standards consistent across all sectors. Ensuring decent working and living conditions is an imperative to safeguarding seafarers’ rights, promoting safety at sea and sustaining the maritime industry.
Sea workers continue to work in conditions that simply would not be acceptable in most other land-based sectors, including other transport sectors. (....)