Abstract
There is clear evidence of what is now a well-established trend towards ‘flagging out’ vessels in the Western Mediterranean ferry trades, especially where the vessels in question trade between EU and non-EU countries.
The ferries that operate between EU and non-EU countries often have poor working conditions as a result of flagging out and the employment of non-EU seafarers: all the evidence indicates that that non-EU nationals in general, and non-nationals crewing a FOC vessel in particular, enjoy (or more accurately endure) inferior wages, work longer hours, and are less well protected in terms of sick pay, maternity entitlements, repatriation, and termination of employment.
Island Cabotage is now one of the last bastions of decent working conditions for EU seafarers in the Mediterranean. These trades are still characterised by EU (national) flag vessels covered by nationally negotiated collective agreements that ensure high standards of employment.
Union strength is often grounded in information exchange but at present both the ETF/ITF and affiliated maritime unions have significant gaps in their knowledge base. While extensive (on-line) data is available on various ‘commercial’ dimensions such as vessel ownership, flag, routes, etc., there is very little information on crew composition and collective agreements.
The ETF does not currently have the in-house resources or systems in place to generate and maintain an active database (mapping) of ferry trades in the Mediterranean (or indeed any other regional market of the EU). This Report, and the accompanying Excel file, represents the first complete mapping of ferry trades to/from France, Italy and Spain and should be relatively easy to update on at least an annual and ideally a more regular basis.
Using the data generated by the mapping of ferry trades in the Western Mediterranean, the ETF and affiliated maritime unions are now in a position to target specific vessels, companies and routes with sub-standard terms and conditions of employment. The mapping exercise will also provide much needed data to inform the ETF’s on-going political campaigns and the European social dialogue with ECSA.
The ferries that operate between EU and non-EU countries often have poor working conditions as a result of flagging out and the employment of non-EU seafarers: all the evidence indicates that that non-EU nationals in general, and non-nationals crewing a FOC vessel in particular, enjoy (or more accurately endure) inferior wages, work longer hours, and are less well protected in terms of sick pay, maternity entitlements, repatriation, and termination of employment.
Island Cabotage is now one of the last bastions of decent working conditions for EU seafarers in the Mediterranean. These trades are still characterised by EU (national) flag vessels covered by nationally negotiated collective agreements that ensure high standards of employment.
Union strength is often grounded in information exchange but at present both the ETF/ITF and affiliated maritime unions have significant gaps in their knowledge base. While extensive (on-line) data is available on various ‘commercial’ dimensions such as vessel ownership, flag, routes, etc., there is very little information on crew composition and collective agreements.
The ETF does not currently have the in-house resources or systems in place to generate and maintain an active database (mapping) of ferry trades in the Mediterranean (or indeed any other regional market of the EU). This Report, and the accompanying Excel file, represents the first complete mapping of ferry trades to/from France, Italy and Spain and should be relatively easy to update on at least an annual and ideally a more regular basis.
Using the data generated by the mapping of ferry trades in the Western Mediterranean, the ETF and affiliated maritime unions are now in a position to target specific vessels, companies and routes with sub-standard terms and conditions of employment. The mapping exercise will also provide much needed data to inform the ETF’s on-going political campaigns and the European social dialogue with ECSA.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) |
| Number of pages | 44 |
| Publication status | Published - May 2013 |