“Who’s Looking Out for the Seafarers?”
…Life at sea offers steady employment and, for workers from many countries, above-average wages.
But it also brings the risk of exploitation and abuse. Seafarers are far from home, dependent on the shipping company and often unaware of their few legal protections…
Smith said the industry is rife with systemic exploitation, violence and extreme working conditions…
On board these ships, seafarers are responsible for a wide range of duties including navigation, ship maintenance, cooking and handling cargo.
But the job can be risky. At the group’s morning gathering, the inspectors and union members swapped stories about problems…
…a cook from the Philippines learned his wife was suffering from a terminal illness. … The shipowner wanted someone to take over his responsibilities as cook before buying him a ticket home…
… The vessel was owned by Wisdom Marine Group, a Taiwanese shipping company that did not respond to The Tyee’s requests for comment.
It flew a Panamanian flag and had a crew of 21 workers of Chinese nationality…