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Unions expose ‘shameful’ Black Sea working conditions

[ May 13, 2013   //   ]

The International Transport Federation (ITF) and its affiliated maritime unions in Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine have mounted a campaign to expose substandard working conditions in what they dub ‘The Sea of Shame’.

They say the Black Sea is one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a seafarer, with many of the 2,400 vessels working in the region over 20 years of age, and around 800 over 30 years old. Sinkings are not uncommon, and the risk of death and injury is deemed to be part of the job. This week of action will expose these “unacceptable conditions” and put the industry on notice that things will have to change with the coming into force on 20 August 2013 of the Maritime Labour Convention.

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