Skip to main content

Knowledge is power and new ITF web tool aims to give seafarers that power

ニュース 記者発表資料

A new web tool will help seafarers looking for jobs through the maze of slippery manning agents and cunning scammers.

ITFShipBeSure.org launches today to give those looking for work on cargo or cruise ships the kind of insight they need to negotiate sound contracts and avoid the perils of shady manning agents.

It features a directory of manning agents that have been rated by the ITF as either green (good to go) or red (best avoided). The site initially covers four countries that are major crew suppliers but will be expanded and eventually include much of the world. The launch countries are India, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines.

“Every year, hundreds of seafarers are scammed or defrauded by manning agents,” said Steve Trowsdale, the ITF Inspectorate Coordinator.  “Our inspectors have long experience in identifying the illegal practices of dubious agents. We wanted to pass on that knowledge so seafarers can find good, reliable work.”

Trowsdale hopes the web tool will stamp out fake, rogue and non-compliant agents.

The site helps seafarers understand what good manning agents can do for them. And what bad agents may try. It details what they should expect in a contract and how they can make sure they’re getting a fare deal. It also includes links to the employment pages of cruise ship operators.

Seafarers looking for work can find reliable manning agents with ITFShipBeSure’s directory

“Scams to trick job seekers out of money or to steal their documentation are proliferating,” said Trowsdale. “ITFShipBeSure also includes a guide to spot these scams and a regularly updated section that highlights the scams we know about. The golden rule is: if a job looks too good to be true it almost certainly is.”

Some scams look highly professional and it's all too easy to fall into their trap. But ShipBeSure includes a Look Up section where seafarers can search on ships or find contact details for their nearest union rep or ITF inspector.

“Knowing as much as possible is the best way to protect yourself: about a ship you plan to work on, the recruitment process, and the terms and conditions,” said Trowsdale. “That knowledge is what we aim to provide with ShipBeSure.”

 

END

 

About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives; connecting trade unions from 147 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice for nearly 20 million working women and men in the transport industry across the world.

 

Media contact:          media@itf.org.uk        +44 20 7940 9282

現場の声

ニュース

南米大陸横断回廊のトラック運転手を保護するILO勧告

南米大陸横断回廊の道路運送を持続可能にする画期的な勧告を ILO が発表  この ILO 勧告 は南米大陸横断回廊を走行するトラック運転手の労働条件・安全衛生向上のための具体的な計画を示したもので、南米の ITF 加盟組合、使用者団体、各国政府の合意の成果である。  チリ、ボリビア、アルゼンチン、パラグアイ、ブラジルを横断するこの回廊は、輸送コストの削減と雇用機会の拡大を通じて
ニュース

ITFの女性が世界を動かす!

ジェンダー平等が約束ではなく、実践される世界を築く  2024 年 10 月の大会での選出以降、初の女性委員会が今週2日間にわたり開催され、活発な議論と意見交換を経て、向こう5年間の優先事項が確認された。  連帯と女性のリーダーシップというテーマがすべての議論に貫かれ、女性交通運輸労働者のために成果を実現し、強力で平等な組合を構築する活動計画の基礎が固められた。  ジェンダーに起因する賃金格差