THE INTERNATIONAL Transport Workers Federation, the MUA and the Labor Party have called for Australia to designate seafarers as key workers, in line with International Maritime Organization resolutions.
In December, the IMO passed several resolutions addressing the need for seafarers and other marine personnel to be designated as key workers.
Forty-five IMO member states, not including Australia, have determined seafarers to be key workers.
Shadow minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development Catherine King said as a maritime trading nation, Australia is reliant on shipping to import food, medicines and other essential goods to our nation and to deliver our exports to the rest of the world.
“It is essential that exhausted workers are provided support to return home after the expiration of their contracts and replacements sent to their ships. Failure to do so not only impacts on those workers stranded but increases dangers for everyone working in Australian waters or at Australian ports,” Ms King said.
“Seafarers should immediately be designated essential workers and a cross-government taskforce must be established to address serious issues across the sector.”
ITF president and MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said Australia must act immediately to align itself with international efforts to designate seafarers key workers.
“Australia must act immediately … to facilitate the safe and unhindered movement of seafarers for embarking and disembarking a vessel, accessing shore leave, and when necessary, access to shore-based medical treatment,” Mr Crumlin said.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the health of people and communities across the world, the outlook for seafarers becomes increasingly more desperate by the day.
“The despair of this crisis cannot be understated. Over 400,000 seafarers internationally are held captive on their ships, and an equal number are prevented from travelling to relieve these desperate workers due to the global and national inconsistencies in travel restrictions.”
Mr Crumlin said Australian seafarers are effectively locked out of jurisdictions where they are engaged in transport operations domestically, and the interconnection of global and national trade.
“It is vital that attention be paid to Australia’s reliance on essential workers in the maritime transport chain to maintain the continuous supply of essential goods that Australian communities rely on and that the Morrison Government act immediately to address the failed policy settings which continue to exacerbate this crisis for Australian and international seafarers,” Mr Crumlin said.
