A former President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Capt Solomon Omoteso, on Wednesday appealed to manning agents and ship-owners to improve on the welfare of Nigerian seafarers.
Omoteso made the call in an interview with reporters in Lagos yesterday.
He said that the appeal became necessary due to the country’s adoption of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) of 2006.
He said that the continued neglect of seafarers necessitated the adoption of the convention.
A former President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Capt Solomon Omoteso, on Wednesday appealed to manning agents and ship-owners to improve on the welfare of Nigerian seafarers.
Omoteso made the call in an interview with reporters in Lagos yesterday.
He said that the appeal became necessary due to the country’s adoption of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) of 2006.
He said that the continued neglect of seafarers necessitated the adoption of the convention.
NAN reports that a seafarer is the general term for men and occasionally women working on ships on the seas.
The MLC 2006 was established by International Labour Organisation (ILO) to protect and ensure the welfare of seafarers.
The MLC is to ensure prompt compensation to seafarers and their families in the case of a seafarer’s death or long-term disability.
The United Nations declared every June 25 as the Seafarers’ Day which is always celebrated in Nigeria by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Omoteso said that the country had complied with MLC, 2006 but some ship-owners still needed do more.
He said that ship-owners should also meet the agreement on wages of seafarers.
“A ship-owner can be someone that charter a ship from one leg to another leg, but his obligation to the seafarers should be upgraded and maintained,” he said.
Omoteso also urged seafarers to meet the requirements of the MLC 2006 for all to enjoy their benefits.
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