No wages for crew

Date: 04 November 2008

Twenty-two Filipino workers on board a ship carrying coastal cargos to a WA port from Adelaide may not have been paid for three months

The International Transport Federation has demanded that the ship operators, charterers and owners of an Australian chartered vessel show proof that the 22 Filipino crew on board are being paid before it unloads a coastal cargo in Bunbury W.A.

"We have been contacted by workers to say that there has been no pay for the last 3 months however they were too frightened to talk to ITF Inspectors who boarded the ship on Friday," said Dean Summers, National Coordinator of the ITF.

"Our primary concern is for the safety, welfare and labour standards of the workers on board. It is unacceptable that workers are not paid wages and are carrying Australian coastal cargos.

"The Australian Government and the shipowners must take responsibility and immediate action.

The Greek owned ship Equator is carrying a cargo of "Ilmanite" for the Brisbane based "Bemax Resources". The ship is flagged in the Marshall Islands and the owners have no international minimum agreement for crew wages and conditions.

"The Master refused to cooperate in any way claiming that it was "more than his job was worth to pass information onto the ITF while Bemax Resources refuse to discuss the matter with the ITF.

"We want full cooperation from the Australian government and the Australian resources company involved to check the welfare of the crew and to have this ship covered by an international minimum agreement to ensure the crew are paid and their human rights protected."

The Greek ship is using a Single Voyage Permit to carry cargo on domestic routes. This deregulated permit system is a hangover from Howard Government and the ITF is urging the current government to make changes to ensure Australian cargoes aren't shipped on vessels without worker or human rights agreements.

The ITF and their maritime unions affiliates have been campaigning against the use of deregulated shipping which fail to recognise labour, safety and in some cases human rights standards.

For further information

Contact:	Dean Summers
Union:	MUA
Phone:	61 2 9267 9134
Contact Mobile:	0419 934 648
WWW:	http://mua.org.au/

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