Unions fight to protect emergency medical care access during pandemic
27 April 2020
Unions and shipowners have joined forces globally to urge governments to respect seafarers' rights to emergency medical treatment after reports some injured and sick crew had been refused treatments at ports due to Covid-19 restrictions
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) called for governments to respect seafarers' fundamental human rights and to urgently allow access to medical care and treatment.
'Seafarers are key workers and without their professional services and commitment, citizens of the world would be much worse off.'
In one case a seafarer who exhibited signs of a stroke, confirmed by a doctor from the telemedicine assistance company Global Voyage Assistance, was also refused a request for medical evacuation, by the local port authorities citing Covid-19 restrictions, despite two requests from the ship's Master.
Four days after the request and after intervention from ITF affiliates, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO),the seafarer was finally disembarked and taken to a hospital.
'The (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) is clear – a seafarer, while working on board, has the right to adequate health protection and access to prompt and adequate medical care including essential dental care. This must be as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore and include the right to be allowed to visit a qualified medical doctor or dentist without delay in ports of call.'
The JNG includes the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), the International Mariners Management Association of Japan (IMMAJ) and ITF. When the ITF and the JNG get together to negotiate crew terms and conditions globally, they are known as the International Bargaining Forum (IBF). Nautilus is represented on this forum by the general secretary Mark Dickinson.
Tags
More articles
Nautilus FAQs on Covid-19 Coronavirus
Seafarers – our keyworker beacons in a global emergency
Immediate government action needed to prevent massive job losses in UK offshore sector, say unions
Nautilus has joined with other trade unions to demand an urgent meeting with the UK government over the crisis in the offshore energy sector.
'Come back to negotiating table' Union tells P&O Ferries as it outlines plans to lay up ships and furlough another 300 employees
Nautilus has pressed P&O Ferries to return to the negotiating table following its announcement to lay up four ships and furlough another 300 employees in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Public Health England publish Covid-19 FAQs for maritime
Public Health England have published FAQs on Covid-19 for the maritime sector, which includes procedures for safe access for pilots on ships entering UK ports.
Master Mariners speak out about Covid-19 concerns
New ITF statistics show unpaid crew wages remain a significant global problem
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has reported a large year-on-year increase in the 'owed wages' its ship inspectors have recovered for crews.
Nautilus hails multi-million-pound support package for 'lifeblood' ferries
Nautilus International, the Union for maritime professionals, has hailed the British government's multi-million-pound coronavirus support package to keep open vital ferry and transport routes for supplies and people.
Maritime sector is doing work of 'national importance' – UK minister
Maritime sector is doing work of 'national importance, says UK Minister, despite the unprecedented difficulties, the maritime industry has 'responded magnificently'.