THE Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) says it will no longer tolerate employers’ negligence on seafarers.
The President-General of MWUN, Mr Francis Bunu, said this during a routine tour of a facility of Melsmore Marine Nig. Ltd., at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, according to a statement.
The statement was signed by MWUN’s Head of Media, Mr John Kennedy Ikemefuna, on Wednesday in Lagos.
Bunu said that the tour was to sensitise seafarers employed by Melsmore about their forthcoming unionisation into MWUN.
He said that it had been agreed that seafarers in Melsmore should be unionised in conformity with maritime standard of operations in Nigeria and globally.
“It has been observed that most seafarers in the country are poorly catered for on board vessels, and poorly remunerated,” he said
Bunu said that some seafarers were being made to work under hazardous conditions with little or no safety and health facility on board.
He said that the situation jeopardised the health of the seafarers with communicable diseases, which have claimed the lives of sailors and crews while on sea.
“Such absolute negligence on seafarers within the maritime space in Nigeria by employers of labour in the maritime industry will no longer be tolerated in any ramification.
“This period is a new order in the maritime Industry, and every employer of labour must comply with all global safety standards on board vessels.
“Any employer found wanting henceforth, in this regard, will be appropriately dealt with, according to Maritime Labour Rules and Regulations,” he said.
Bunu said that unionisation of the workers would produce a work guidelines and welfare package book.
