ITF Launches Second South Asia Week of Action

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) today launches a second week of action targeting vessels at ports in India.

Volunteer teams of seafarers, dockers and ITF inspectors will target ships calling at the ports of Mumbai, Kandla, New Mangalore, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Haldia during the action.

“Our focus will include UAE and Chinese shipping companies, several of whom are accused of denying seafarers basic working rights, often on sub-standard vessels with low salaries and fewer amenities,” said ITF Asia/Pacific regional secretary Mahendra Sharma.

“We will also be targeting those German and Greek owned vessels that find ways to avoid signing ITF agreements on their vessels.”

“Unions at Kandla and New Mangalore will also be paying particular attention to STX vessels, in relation to the dispute involving the Longview dockers.”

The targeted campaign, which runs from 5 to 9 December, is one of a series of staggered events in Sri Lanka and India, the London-based organization said.