Nautilus Federation affiliates have published a joint statement, supporting the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) in unilaterally imposing a new minimum monthly basic wage rate for seafarers.
The statement follows the failure to agree a rise to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Minimum Wage rate.
Talks were facilitated by the ILO on 26 and 27 April 2021, but shipowners represented by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) failed to offer a pay rise that used objective ILO minimum wage calculations.
The joint statement reflects on the hard work and sacrifices made by seafarers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and states that: '…seafarers are long overdue a pay rise.
'This is particularly true when the shipping industry is reporting a surge in demand, when dividends have been paid to shareholders, and when seafarers have borne the brunt of keeping the shipping industry moving and the world supplied with over 90% of everything we consume - including vaccinations and medical supplies,' it continues.
The ITF's unilaterally imposed minimum monthly basic wage rate from 1st January 2022, in line with the figure established by the ILO Office report, should be US$683.
Nautilus Federation director Mark Dickinson, who acts as Seafarers Group spokesperson at the ILO and is vice-chair of the Seafarers' Section of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) said: 'Seafarers are heroes of the pandemic. They have sacrificed time and again. They have literally risked their lives so that these companies could survive Covid-19 and its economic effects. And now the thanks they get is a slap in the face from the shipowners who are essentially making them choose between pay cuts now or pay cuts later. It's disgraceful.'
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