Itf Flags of convenience

Here are some statistics about F.O.C and the impact on those working onboard these vessels around the world.

Video of protests

please see the video supported by the unions of Portsmouth and surrounding areas in opposition to the terms and conditions that foreign nationals are being exposed to onboard the Condor ferries vessels Commodore goodwill and Cmommodore clipper.

• £2.35 per hour.
• a minimum of 12 hours per day.
• Continuous working for 3 months, not 1 single day off in that time.
• No annual leave.
• No pension contributions.

Many of the above are in breach of minimum standards of the Uk, Jersey and Guernsey but by flying a flag of convenience on these lifeline ferry services Condor ferries are able to exploit its workforce purely on the basis of racial origin.

rates of pay.

Is £2.35 per hour a decent rate of pay, could you live on it??
this is what condor ferries pays some of its staff!!!

Portsmouth hits rock bottom!!

 

THE PROUD MARITIME HERITAGE OF THE SOUTHCOAST PORT OF PORTSMOUTH, commonly known as "the waterfront city"  HAS HIT ROCK BOTTOM THANKS TO CONDOR FERRIES!!!

OWNED BY THE BANKS AND EXPLOITING IMMIGRATION LOOPHOLES!!

CONDOR FERRIES ARE NOW OPERATING 2 “SWEATSHIPS” OUT OF THE NEWLY BUILT TERMINAL FUNDED BY THE taxpaying PEOPLE OF PORTSMOUTH!!

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION

“STOP CONDOR FERRIES’ EXPLOITATION OF SEAFARERS”

F.O.C = Flag of convenience

What Are FOCs? (flags of convenience)

 

A flag of convenience ship is one that flies the flag of a country other than the country of ownership.

Cheap registration fees, low or no taxes and freedom to employ cheap labour are the motivating factors behind a shipowner's decision to 'flag out'.

The ITF takes into account the degree to which foreign owned vessels are registered and fly the country flag, as well as the following additional criteria, when declaring a register an FOC:

·         The ability and willingness of the flag state to enforce international minimum social standards on its vessels, including respect for basic human and trade union rights, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining with bona fide trade unions.

·         The social record as determined by the degree of ratification and enforcement of ILO Conventions and Recommendations.

·         The safety and environmental record as revealed by the ratification and enforcement of IMO Conventions and revealed by port state control inspections, deficiencies and detentions.

The ITF believes there should be a 'genuine link' between the real owner of a vessel and the flag the vessel flies, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). There is no "genuine link" in the case of FOC registries.

Some of these registers have poor safety and training standards, and place no restriction on the nationality of the crew. Sometimes, because of language differences, seafarers are not able to communicate effectively with each other, putting safety and the efficient operation of the ship at risk.

In many cases these flags are not even run from the country concerned.

Once a ship is registered under an FOC many shipowners then recruit the cheapest labour they can find, pay minimal wages and cut costs by lowering standards of living and working conditions for the crew.

Globalisation has helped to fuel this rush to the bottom. In an increasingly fierce competitive shipping market, each new FOC is forced to promote itself by offering the lowest possible fees and the minimum of regulation. In the same way, ship owners are forced to look for the cheapest and least regulated ways of running their vessels in order to compete, and FOCs provide the solution.

 

E-petition

We have set up an e-petition to oppose the working conditions of  seafarers effected by social dumping.  We would like you to not only sign it, but share it with your friends on Facebook, twitter etc.
If we can get 100,000 signatures we can get it debated in parliament and highlight the working conditions of those employed by Condor ferries, such as;
A minimum 12 hour working day everyday for 90 days.
No annual leave entitlement.
Wages of £2.35 per hour or £28.19 per day.

The e-petition is as follows

Social dumping Of seafarers

Responsible department: Department for Transport

We urge this government to look into the exploitation taking place on our seas. Shipping companies are now exploiting seafarers and paying wages around £2.30 per hour even when a vessel sails between two British Ports. 

We call on the government to review the legislation that allows shipping companies to exploit seafarers on rates of pay less than that of the national minimum wage in Great Britain.

The link to sign it is here: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33741