ITF names and shames abusive employers

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has launched a new online index to tackle the exploitation and abuse of workers at sea. Can you help populate the list by reporting bad maritime employers?

The new Seafarers' Breach of Rights Index lists companies and individuals that deny and abuse seafarers' basic human and trade union rights.

It seeks to identify actions by shipowners, ship managers, flag states or other parties which violate seafarers' fundamental rights, either individually or collectively.

This includes:

• actual or threatened physical or sexual abuse
• non-payment of wages
• persistent violation of employment agreement or collective agreement provisions
• violation of health and safety standards
• sub-standard food and water
• sub-standard crew accommodation
• repeated abandonment
• persistent disregard of international standards relating to maritime safety, crew accommodation, and other relevant standards

Seafarers not only combat the forces of nature on the world's oceans, they remain an unseen workforce, often spending many months away from loved ones in challenging living conditions. We have zero tolerance for anyone who denies and abuses the rights of seafarers who work for them in any capacity. This index will name and shame companies, shipowners, ship managers, and others, who deliberately ignore and undermine seafarers' rights and international conventions that govern working and living conditions onboard Steve Trowsdale, ITF inspectorate coordinator

Several companies have already been named and shamed by the index for issues including abandonment – a warning to seafarers about the treatment they may receive.

You can now search the database to find a potential employer.

Nautilus members are also encouraged to report companies that violate the rights of seafarers to Nautilus and/or the ITF.

Visit the new index here.