|
A newly-formed Asian Seafarers
Employers' Group has come out
strongly against the unilateral
decision by the International
Transport Worker's Federation (ITF)
to establish a benchmark for minimum
wage scale for seamen working on
vessels under Flag of Convenience (FOC).
The group which met in Singapore
recently strongly supported the
movement among Asian seafarers
unions to review such a benchmark to
reflect local and current living
standards of Asian seafarers.
"This review should lead to
necessary changes in the ITF
framework to allow for collective
bargaining between employers and the
local unions to set up appropriate
terms and conditions of such
seafarers," the group said in a
statement issued after its meeting
that was also attended by the
Malaysian Shipowners' Association as
an observer.
The meeting hosted by the Singapore
Shipping Association and the
Singapore Maritime Employers'
Federation stressed on the
importance of it emerging as a forum
for Asian based employers of
seafarers sailing on any type of
merchant vessels to exchange views
and information on their seafarers'
employment, welfare and working
condition.
The primary objective of the group
is to harmonise the Asian seafarers
employers voice so as to exert a
greater influence on any current or
future developments concerning
seafarers' issue, the statement
added. |
