Under the new measures, which take effect as of 18 February, ships must have proof of insurance cover for up to four months’ owed wages and entitlement. Any ships in contravention will not be allowed to anchor at or call UAE ports.
The move comes as newly elected IMO Council member UAE prepares to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, which as of January 2017 requires ships subject to the MLC to display proof of such financial security measures.
“We are strongly behind the mandate issued by the Federal Transport Authority - Land and Maritime, for the financial protection of seafarers operating in the waters of the UAE,” commented David Heindel, chair of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), seafarers' section.
"Basic rights are being violated on a daily basis by companies operating in this region who not only fail to pay wages, but also fail to provide safe working conditions and enough food and clean water for their seafarers.
“This is a huge step forward in a region where, historically, shipowners have been allowed to repeatedly abuse the rights of seafarers,” Heindel added.
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