The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has called on governments in the African region to work with global unions to develop programmes that support the interests of seafarers.
This after reports that 10 Kenyan seafarers who had travelled to Pemba, Mozambique, in August last year were stranded for four months on board their vessel.
Reports suggest that the seafarers were sent out to work on a European Union-bound vessel, the Comoros-flagged MV Nina.
According to ITF, they were left stranded on the vessel without contracts and adequate food.
When they tried to contact the Iranian owner of the vessel they were subjected to intimidation and death threats, forcing them to report the matter to the Pemba Maritime Authority and ITF Africa.
Mozambican authorities inspected the vessel, which was found to be unseaworthy due to technical problems. The 10 seafarers were sent home using an unregistered recruitment agent. They only arrived back in Kenya on 7 January.
ITF inspector Betty Makena said in a statement that African seafarers still faced many problems including low wages, mistreatment from employers and lack of jobs. – Zoë van Rooyen
