This year’s Day of the Seafarer IMO campaign continues to encourage governments to support seafarers amid the pandemic and recognise them as key workers but also focuses on the future, calling for a fair future for seafarers.
This pandemic has proved, beyond all doubt, the importance of seafarers: they are the heart of world trade and the global economy. And yet, we see that seafarers are not receiving the recognition they deserve.
Seafarers have been pushed to the limit throughout the pandemic, finding themselves subject to strenuous working conditions with uncertainties and difficulties such as ongoing fatigue, physical and mental exhaustion, working beyond agreed working hours and crew change and repatriation problems.
As proposed by ILO, the establishment of a UN task force to examine the implementation and practical application of the MLC 2006 during the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on seafarers’ fundamental rights, is more than necessary.
We support seafarers, and we are listening to their hopes and the vision they have for a fair future.
Today, of all days, is an opportunity to highlight their work and grant them:
- better life standards at sea;
- safe and secure working environment;
- decent employment and availability of jobs;
- equal opportunities and fair pay for all;
- no discrimination and respect of human and social rights and requirements of the existing legislative framework;
- better training and prospects for future career paths.
The unresolved issues before the pandemic remain today and are still of great concern for the future. It’s time for all involved stakeholders to do everything possible to ensure a fair future for seafarers and a better life for them and their families.
