ITF pushes to stamp out blacklisting of seafarers

Blacklisting,' the nefarious practice of blocking future employment of seafarers who complain about unjust treatment or engage in union actions, has taken center stage in a recent seminar conducted by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) in Manila.

Despite the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's denial of the existence of blacklisting, the ITF said the disreputable practice has been widespread in the shipping industry.

The ITF Worldwide Inspectors Seminar, held on 21-25 February at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel, focused on the Philippines as the largest crew supplier and tried to expose more than 100 inspectors from 38 countries to the Manila-based manning agencies.

The seminar also brought up the problems being encountered by Filipino seafarers in foreign ports - from lack of immediate assistance from the port's nearest consulate to the absence of state offices support from the home country once problems onboard arise.

More often than not, the transport federation claimed that those who contact the ITF for help are labeled as 'troublemakers.' Their names are put on the 'blacklists' held by manning agencies and 'watchlists' held by the POEA. The practice usually destroys the future not only of seafarers but of their dependents as well.

The ITF, which presented a well-researched dossier that showed the human consequences of blacklisting last December 1998, once again asked the POEA to stamp out the illegal and immoral practice. "When seafarers rightfully complain about safety standards, poor working conditions or unpaid wages, they should not be punished for life. Yet if a seafarer appears on a blacklist their maritime career, often the only job open to them, is over."

Labor secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, who addressed the seminar, told journalists that he would look into the complaints lodged by the ITF.

At the same time, crewing agents have vowed to co-operate in solving the problem of blacklisting.

Filipino Association for Mariners' Employment president Vince Aldanese told the ITF inspectors that his members are willing to help the unions in doing away with the disreputable practice. Aldenese, however, pointed out that the initiative to blacklist would not come from the agent as the practice would break recruitment patterns in a period of shortage of competent seafarers.

PMEC, IMEC's local counterpart, will soon be consulted and required for inputs in the model TCC agreement, which may vary on a per nationality basis.

Working out for a model agreement is just one of the objectives of the IMEC/ITF joint negotiating forum. It also aims to tackle employment of seafarers on FOC ships, including, but not limited to the minimum conditions under which ITF is prepared to issue a 'blue certificate', ITF acceptable 'benchmark' wage rates, level of increases, contractual clauses, wage differentials and special agreements.

In its rules of procedures formulated by the parties, the two sides shall nominate representatives to the forum who will negotiate in good faith and seek to find solutions to the issues under discussion subject to their approval as endorsed by respective governing bodies for any agreement reached.

Neither IMEC nor ITF shall have any right of veto over the nomination of the other party's representatives but both parties agree to liaise to ensure appropriate representation to address the issues under the discussion.