ITF and employers put 30-day deadline on crew exchange

Employers and union representatives have agreed one final 30-day extension to the employment of seafarers under shipping’s largest collective bargaining agreement

The deal announced by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group, which represents employers, is aimed at giving governments time to allow crew to go home.

Stressful situation

The organisations warned that mental stress on seafarers working beyond their agreed terms, and lack of access to medical care, is now putting the commercial viability ship operations at risk.