In 1998, US$41 million was recovered through the ITF for seafarers who had not been paid. At a time when seafarers are keeping the world moving, COVID-19 cannot be used as an excuse to lower the wage and working conditions of seafarers, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said. Please see the table below. wage of able seafarers. Palau is on the Paris MOU black list of underperforming flag states/ Job and income losses, and their unresolved abandonment case, have forced the seafarers to take a stand over their owed wages, says ITF. Seafarers are vital employees because they keep the global supply chains moving. Indian, Turkish, Azerbaijaniani and Bangladeshi seafarers are in the third week of a hunger strike in the port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. According to Paragraph 10 of the Seafarers’ Wages, Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships Recommendation, 1996 (No. It promotes respect for trade union and human rights worldwide, that includes salary of seafarers. As always, the ITF is on standby to assist in any way we can," said Arrachedi. It is a concerted effort between the International Transport Worker’s Federation (ITF), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the representative list of selected maritime countries. It may be all the crew who are affected, or it may be only one person. If you find that your wages have not been paid, do not delay, and contact the nearest ITF inspector or email the ITF Seafarers Support team at seafsupport@itf.org.uk Situations are easier to resolve if you have not been paid for two months than if you have not been paid for nine months Make sure you have as much information and evidence to hand. Every two years, the International Labor Convention (ILO) Joint Maritime Committee convenes and discusses the recommended minimum wages for seafarers. If your ship is covered by an ITF agreement, you are entitled to an ITF wage. The abandoned crew of the bulk carrier Ula (IMO number: 8102414) have been on hunger strike since 7 January in a desperate effort to get off the ship and recover more than $400,000 USD in wages owed to them. ITF is the voice for nearly 20 million transport workers, including over a million seafarers. With ITF help they were repatriated with USD$38,792 of their wages in hand. The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) is an international trade union federation of transport workers’ union. Photo: Pixabay. In light of the above, Mohamed Arrachedi is the ITF’s Arab World and Iran Network coordinator, stated: Cases of abandonment and unpaid wages are definitely on the rise across the world, and in this region in particular. During the process of assisting seafarers experiencing unpaid wages, the ITF will often reach out to the Flag State where the ship is registered, requesting they encourage or compell a ship owner to do the right thing and pay outstanding entitlements to affected employees. Each year, crew members on about 1,500 ships complain to the ITF that their employer is unwilling or unable to pay their wages. However, the ITF Fair Practices Committee Steering Group (FPC SG), is disappointed that IMEC released the circular without prior consultation with the ITF. They say their families cannot afford to have them walk away from the ship empty handed. During the process of assisting seafarers experiencing unpaid wages, the ITF will often reach out to the flag state where the ship is registered, requesting they encourage or compel a ship owner to pay outstanding entitlements to affected employees. 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