Why Nigerian Seafarers Are Poorly Remunerated By Employers- Engr. Yousuo

The National President,  Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association , Comrade Engineer Bob Joseph Yousuo has disclosed that the nation’s seafarers are maltreated  and are poorly remunerated by employers due to lack of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and sense of belonging to the right union.

 

 

Engineer Yousou who disclosed this on Tuesday at the commissioning of the union’s newly acquired national secretariat in Apapa Lagos , called on seafarers’ to join either the seafaring association or the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to ensure that the CBA arrangements are put in place before embarking on any voyage .

 

According to him, the union under his administration will engage shipping companies and manning agents constructively from the beginning of 2021 as part of measures to protect workers welfare packages adding that  the two unions are the only bodies recognized and gazetted by the federal government of Nigeria.

 

He noted that”This is only recognised and constituted body by the federal government because if we are not gazetted ITF will not be at this event, same goes to NIMASA, Trade Union Congress representative won’t be here.

 

“So let me sound it clear again that seafarers’should join us or Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria so that we can take a strong position on issues affecting our sector.

 

He lamented that some of the youths are misinformed about the profession thus prioritize the wearing of uniform instead of making a career out of the marine operations.

 

He also decried the proliferation of fake certification by some groups but reaffirmed that the union will continue to fight for the protection of seafarers’ with the right certification.

 

Yousuo also observed that some seafarers’ are underpaid due to fake certification because according to him, some employers are in need of cheap labour pointing out that seamen with the right qualifications can not work aboard vessels and collect peanut at the end of the month.

 

The National President called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to enter into bilateral agreement with other maritime nations of the world in furtherance to promote seafaring and Nigerian seafarers’respectively.

 

“The more we come together the more we engage the employers on what is right about welfare packages.”he stressed

 

He however added that fake certification is a global phenomenon and must be condemned by both regulatory agencies and employers to enhance global professionalism .

 

By Roland Ekama