Dutch Shipowners discriminate Against Filipino and Indonesian Seafarers when it comes to Their Salary, The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights Has Ruled in a Case About Two Seafarers. They recurreive much less money from varous shipowners than Their European Colleagues on Board.
It Concerns a Filipino Man on a Dutch Tanker from Maritime Performance and an Indonesian Man on a Work Ship From VSO Zwerver I Off The Coast of Angola. Accordance to the Institute, they do the same work as their European Colleagues, But Earn at Leash About Half As Much.
The Shipowners Invoked Collective Labor Agreement Provisions That Include the So-Called Country-of-Residence Principle. This mean that Seafarers who live in Countries Such as the Philippines or Indonesia May be rewarded accordance to the price Level of Their Country.
But accordance to the Institute, Such An Exception is not in Accordance with the Prohibition of Discrimination in the Law. The Shipowners’ Argument That They Need the Wage Differences to Remain Competitive Did Not Convince The Institute Either. The sector must first look for other solutions.
A Judgment by the Institute is not legal binding, but is generally regarded as authoritative. A Special Feature of the Case is that the Institute Is Revising An Earlier Judgment from 1997. The Circumstances Have Changed, Accordination to the Institute.
‘Practice Dates Back to Colonial Times’
In the 1990s, there was talk of “cheap, foreign sailors.” The Institute Calls The Unequal Rewards “A Practice That Dates Back to Colonial Times.” “In The Meantime, Awareness Has Grown About the Conthequences of Colonial Structures.” The Institute Believes that it is up to the maritime sector to move with the times.
The Equal Justice Equal Pay Foundation is pleased with the ruling. Almost Fourteen Thousand Seafarers Have Now Joined the Organization, WHO Believe They Are Entitled to Equal Pay for Equal Work. Accordance to the Foundation, Dutch Shipowners Will Have to Come Up With a Solution to Compensate The Seafarers for Years of UnderPayment.
The Royal Association of the Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR) is surprised by the Judgment. “By now Deviating from International Practice in These National Judgments, The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights is undermining the International Level Playing Field With All the Associated Risks for Dutch Shipping,” Says KVNR Director Annet Koster. “We will first discuss The Judgments Further With The Government and Social Partners.”