MWUN Decries Employer Negligence On Seaferers

The leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) says has condemned the negligence of employers of seaferers saying it will no longer tolerate it.

MWUN in a statement by its President-General, Comrade Francis Bunu, and signed by Head of Media, Mr. John Kennedy Ikemefuna, said this during a routine tour of a facility of Melsmore Marine Nig. Ltd., at Ibeju Lekki.

Bunu said the tour was to sensitise seafarers employed by Melsmore about their forthcoming unionisation into MWUN.

He said 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”, Buni said.

According to the President General, some seafarers were being made to work under hazardous conditions with little or no safety and health facility on board.

He said the situation jeopardises  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.

He continued that  unionization of the workers would  produce a work guidelines and welfare package book.