MARGAO
On International Seafarers Day, Goan seafarers have urged the state and central government to urgently address the pending “fairness issues” concerning the seafarers in Goa such as the debarment of CDC issue and various other issues brought to the attention of the government.
At a function held in the city here on Friday, Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) said the International Martine Organisation (IMO) has raised issues that will be relevant to seafarers after the pandemic, including fair treatment of seafarers, fair working conditions (in line with ILO's Maritime Labour Convention), fair salaries, fair training, fair safety, etc.
GSAI president Franky Veigas lamented that despite their valuable contribution to the world economy, seafarers are faced with varied “Fairness” issues concerning their working conditions and welfare.
For instance, he said due to the prevailing grim scenario, thousands of seafarers are still working at sea beyond their contracted time and equal numbers are facing financial difficulties, desperate to relieve crew on ships and start earning wages again.
The GSAI president also made a fervent plea to roll out Covid-19 vaccine on top priority and put a stop to the criminalization of seafarers. He also raised the issues of shorter contract duration for ratings, generous amount of free internet access, reducing the unemployment gap between demand and supply and tackling piracy.
GSAI vice-president, Eng Gabriel Pinto said in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic since January 2020, seafarers found themselves both on the front line of the global response and subject to difficult working conditions surrounding uncertainties and difficulties around port access, re-supply, crew changeovers, repatriation, etc. “In light of this, the 2020 Day of the Seafarer campaign focused its message around urging governments to recognize seafarers as key workers and ease travel restrictions for them to facilitate crew changes.The 2021 Day of the Seafarer campaign continues to encourage governments to support seafarers amid the pandemic but also expands its message, calling for a fair future for seafarers. Therefore, the focus of the campaign this year is: ‘Fair Future for Seafarers’, he added.
Chief Engineer Freddy Nunes who was the Chief Guest of the function thanked GSAI President Frank Viegas and its members for the commendable efforts of addressing various issues of the Seafarers community
Captain Elborne D'Silva, who was the guest of honour, mentioned about the theme broadcast by IMO about #Fairfuture4Seafarers.
GSAI felicitated some of their retired seafarers and others who ventured into agro farming bringing fallow land under cultivation during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
