MWUN declares state of emergency over seafarers’ welfare

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has announced the declaration ofa state of emergency in the maritime sector, following alleged maltreatment by shipping companies in Nigeria of their workers.

The National President of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, said this in a chat with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday.

Calling out the Shipping Association of Nigerian over the development, Adeyanju noted that the workers were poorly remunerated and overworked, hence the union would take action on the erring companies soon.

He said, ”I also want to quickly use this medium to call on members of SAN to urgently institute the process for upward review of the very poor retirement benefit of shipping companies personnel and their condition of service, which is virtually non-existent.

“Comrades, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the shipping sector is under siege. I dare say this, because records show that our members in the shipping sector have over the years been underpaid and overworked.”

Declaring that the injustice could not continue, the MWUN boss said “this must be stopped now. I am therefore requesting an overhaul of the remuneration system currently operative in the shipping sector.”

He also frowned at the outsourcing of jobs that Nigerians were capable of handling, saying the practice was inimical to the country’s growth.

“Another problem in this sector is the issue of outsourcing of jobs such as security, accounting, human resources, operations etc, which ordinarily can be efficiently handled by Nigerians. But the jobs are contracted out; throwing very qualified Nigerians into the labour market to their detriment and expanding the unemployment market.

“We see this practice as against the principle of local content as canvassed by the Federal Government,” he said.

Anozie Egole
Anozie Egole
Anozie Egole is a Transport correspondent. He reports Maritime, Aviation and Rail/Road Transport for Financial Street.

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