Absolute negligence of seafarers by employers is over – MWUN PG

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has vowed that absolute negligence of seafarers in Nigeria by employers of labour in the maritime industry will no longer be tolerated in any ramification.

The MWUN President General (PG), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, made the vow while sensitising the Union’s seafarers on the employment of Melsmore Marine Nigeria Limited on their forthcoming unionization into the Seafarers’ Branch of the Union during his tour of Melsmore facility located at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, recently.

It would be recalled face-off ensued between the Union and Melsmore Marine Ltd a few days back over the failed request made by the Union that the management of Melsmore Marine Ltd should provide its employees current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the monthly record of Pensions remittances (PFA’s) of the workers has taken a new and positive dimension.

Having gone past the initial feud stage, a meeting of truce had been held by the leadership of Maritime Workers Union and Management of Melsmore Marine Ltd and had struck an understanding that the Union’s Seafarers in their employ must be unionized in conformity with regulations of Maritime standard of operations in Nigeria and globally.

It was also widely observed that most Seafarers in the country are poorly catered for on board vessels; and poorly remunerated, even as far as being subjected to work under hazardous conditions with little or no safety and health facility on board, thereby jeopardizing their health with various communicable diseases, which had in most cases claimed the lives of sailors and crews while on sea.

Comrade Bunu said this period is a new order in the maritime industry and that every employer of labour must comply with all global safety standards on board vessels, and most importantly on workers’ welfare which cannot be overemphasized; and that any employer found wanting henceforth in this regard will be appropriately dealt with according to Maritime Labour rules and regulations.

The MWUN PG intimated the seafarers that their process of unionization is ongoing, assuring them of safe landing as there wouldn’t be any form of intimidation or harassment of any sort from any quarter both in the Union and Melsmore management.

The labour leader added that the unionization of the workers would also produce a “Work Guidelines and Welfare package” book, known as the “NJIC” (National Joint Industrial Council) for safe and seamless operations in the sector, as this is also applicable to all the branches of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria across board.