Int'l mechanism crucial to ensure maritime workers' rights

Illustrative
image (Source: VNA)
Geneva (VNA) Head of the Vietnamese delegation to the United Nations, Ambassador Nguyen Trung
Thanh, has called on the world community to actively build a feasible international mechanism to
ensure the rights of fishermen.
The diplomat made the call during an international seminar on ensuring safety at the workplace for
maritime labourers, which was jointly held by Vietnam and the International Labour Organisation in
Geneva on June 22 on the sidelines of the ongoing 32nd session of the UN Human Right Council.
Ambassador Thanh also called for stronger international cooperation in efforts against piracy and
search and rescue missions, as well as support from relevant international organisations and
countries across the globe, especially in resources and professional skills.
In the context of disputes and sovereignty overlapping, all parties should abide by international laws
and conduct, he stressed.
He noted that sea-based labourers are highly vulnerable due to increasing natural disasters, piracy
and other risks.
Also, maritime workers, especially in developing countries, are facing obstacles, he said, pointing
out that many fishermen are living in appalling conditions without health care service and adequate
wages.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 is only effective to crewmembers of above
500-tonne ships, not fishermen, he said, adding that no international convention has been introduced
to ensure their rights.
Le Phan Linh, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labours Union of Maritime
Workers, reviewed Vietnams policies in ensuring sea-based labourers in accordance to the MLC
2006 as well as other international commitments, and obstacles the country is facing in the field,
especially in finance and mechanism.
At the same time, Brandt Wagner, head of the ILOs Transport and Maritime Unit, called on countries
to finalise and ratify the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, to set up a mechanism protecting
fishermens right in an effective manner. So far, the convention has been approved by only eight
countries.
Participants at the seminar, including more than 30 Geneva-based permanent delegations from
various countries and international organisations, lauded Vietnam and the ILOs ideas to organise the
seminar, especially when the protection of maritime workers right in Southeast Asia and the world
in general are facing many challenges.-VNA
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