North-Western Shipping Company says ITF launches campaign against vessels flying Russian flag
North-Western Shipping Company OJSC notes persistent acts of the representatives of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) against the company’s vessels, the shipping company says in its statement.
According to the statement, ITF actions are based on consistently “new” accusations of the company saying that it is in breach of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. The latest incident took place in the port of Ghent (Belgium) with the crew of M/V Lazurit (flag of Russia) on March 17, 2014.
As North-Western Shipping Company operating the vessels flying the flags of the Russian Federation, it is obliged to comply with all the statutes of the Russian law of employment, work safety and labour conditions. These statutes are tougher as compared with those applied to the flag of convenience ships.
Each vessel flying the flag of the Russian Federation and operated by the North-Western Shipping Company is certified under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The minimum monthly basic wages for able seafarers of the Company have always been and continue to be in compliance with ILO Recommendation 187 with regard to the wages amount and payment conditions as defined on an annual basis by the Joint Maritime Commission, and as of January 1, 2014 are at least equal to $585.
The obligation to determine such level of the Minimum Monthly Basic Wages is binding in accordance with the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention, which has been effective for Russia since August 20, 2013, and compliance with such obligation is ensured by the Company’s adherence to the River Transport Industry Agreement for 2012−2014 incorporating the requirements of the above Convention. The shipowner as a socially responsible company fully complies with the ILO Convention, including its requirements regarding the provision of information to confirm that the wages are being paid.
Currently, the interests of the North-Western Shipping Company’s seamen are represented by the Water Transport Trade Union of the Russian Federation (WTTU) in accordance with the existing collective bargaining agreement. The WTTU is not an associated member of ITF. There are no members of ITF/FSU among the seamen employed by the Company. Therefore, contrary to what is alleged by ITF/FSU, they do not have any power to check compliance with ILO requirements in the territory of Finland, and their allegations regarding the minimum wages of the Company’s seamen are unfounded and inaccurate.
The statement says that the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and affiliated Seafarers' Union of Russia should realize that claims about the North-Western Shipping Company’s employment terms are actually an assault on the Russian legislation.
The North-Western Shipping Company intends to protect its reputation and the right of its employees to safe labour by all means necessary as permitted by the Russian and international laws.
The North-Western Shipping Company believes that all administrative, civil and criminal liability for the illegal actions referred to above lies with ITF/FSU and, in particular, their representatives whose unlawful acts will in any way directly or indirectly prejudicial to the rights and lawful interests of the crews, vessels, cargo, the Company or the Shipowners, the statement says.
North-Western Shipping Company is the largest carrier in Russia’s water transport system, specializing in shipping import / export general cargo, bulk and loose dry cargo, tugging of oversized cargo and vessels.
The company operates 80 cargo ships with deadweight ranging between 1,700 t and 7,000 t and two ro-ro barges of mixed river-sea type. Total deadweight of the company is 363,000 t, average age – 15 years. The NWS Company transports 6 million tonnes of different cargo a year.
The Company is a member of VBTH, a shipping division of UCL Holding (majority owner of VBTH), consolidating also a number of Russian rail, stevedoring and logistics assets.
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