Nautilus Symposium looks to address disparities facing mobile workers in Switzerland.

On September 17 2024, Nautilus International's Switzerland branch held a public symposium addressing problems faced by itinerant workers in the Swiss inland shipping industry.

Attendees at the event, which was held at the Volkshaus in Basel, included CEOs and HR managers from numerous shipping companies including Danser, Fluvia, Ultra Brag, Unibarge, Viking, River Advice, Scenic, Uniworld, and Riverman. Also in attendance were employees from the Swiss Office of Economic Affairs, the Basel-Stadt Compensation Fund, and the Maritime Navigation Office.

Itinerant workers who do not have residency status in Switzerland face specific issues regarding the payment of unemployment benefits. In his opening address, Nautilus industrial organiser Piet Dörflinger outlined how these workers, despite paying into the Swiss unemployment insurance program, are unable to fully access unemployment benefits. Currently, while contribution periods can be taken into account for time onboard a Swiss or European ship, most workers are forced to draw unemployment benefits from their country of residence.

Dörflinger pointed out how workers who have paid the same contributions are subject to vastly different conditions in the event of unemployment. For example, while a captain from Germany can access 67% of their previous salary through German unemployment benefits, a captain from Romania is entitled to as little as €50 per month.

Also discussed was the issue of sick pay, particularly in the event of severe illness. While many inland shipping companies do take out daily sickness benefits insurance, this is not yet compulsory. As a result, many companies – particularly within the passenger shipping industry – only pay the statutory minimum amount and can only pay workers around 30 days' salary in the event of severe illness.

However, speakers at the event showed that progress is being made to address these glaring disparities. Katrin Distler, co-author of the European Trade Union Confederation's Guide for Mobile Workers in Europe confirmed the existence of systemic issues for mobile workers in accessing sick pay and unemployment benefits. Within her address, she highlighted how although regulatory processes within the EU have slowed progress, awareness is growing amongst authorities and institutions across the continent.

Stephan Cueni, from the Swiss Social Insurance Office, within his address, also acknowledged the existence of gaps in the protections available for itinerant workers and described how his office was working with both national and international authorities to find solutions.