The crew of the bulk carrier Zein get low wages

Today, Inspectors of the Far Eastern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia visited the bulk carrier Zein (Panama flag, IMO 9216822), which is moored at the Nakhodka Commercial Sea Port under a coal loading. Its crew consists of 13 Pakistanis and 10 Indians. All crew members are unhappy with their wage level, which is quite understandable: the vessel is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement of the International Transport Workers' Federation.

According to Nikolay Sukhanov, FETO SUR Chairman, the registered owner of the bulk carrier is Zein Marine SA, and the operator is Allied Marine Services LLC, both from Fujairah, UAE. The latter, by the way, is the beneficiary owner of the vessel and the employer of seafarers: Allied Marine Services LLC signed the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance Part II and pays wages to the crew.

- The crew's wages level is low, - Sukhanov emphasized. – An AB Seaman earns $550 at a base rate of $220, a captain earns $6,500, which is also very little for this position.

Insurance certificates, required by the Maritime Labour Convention are available on board.

The seafarers expressed their dissatisfaction with the level of their wages and asked FETO SUR representatives how they could  achieve fair wages.

- The ITF is seeking to ensure decent working conditions on board FOC vessels for all seafarers, regardless of nationality, gender and religion, - the head of the FETO SUR explained. – It is possible to eliminate unfair treatment of seafarers through the signing of an ITF collective bargaining agreement between the employer and the maritime union and by recognition of a link between the flag under which the vessel is registered and the nationality of the genuine owner.

Besides, the ITF collective bargaining agreement guarantees the salary of AB Seaman to be at least $220 and the death insurance amount to be not less than $110,000.

Nikolay Sukhanov added that within the framework of the Summit of Asia-Pacific region maritime trade unions' leaders, which took place in Tokyo in this April, a working meeting of the delegations of the SUR and the Pakistani Seafarers' Union was held. They discussed their cooperation in protection of the rights and interests of Russian and Pakistani seafarers. The parties agreed to provide assistance to seafarers calling at ports in Russia and Pakistan.

“Given the situation on board the m/v Zein, the crew  held a protest action against the flags of convenience system on board, and we sent a notice to the shipowner demanding to immediately conclude an ITF collective agreement,” -  Nikolay Sukhanov said. The FETO SUR representatives handed to the crew books in English on the rights of seafarers working on board FOC vessels, as well as the fresh magazines "Maritime Unions Herald". Besides, they invited the crew to visit the International Marine Club. 

Photo – FETO SUR