Maritime workers union tasks employers on workers’ safety, adequate compensation

The President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has appealed to employers of labour in the maritime industry to prioritize the safety and well-being of their employees.

Speaking at the 2024 World Maritime Day celebration in Lagos on Thursday, Adeyanju stated that the current situation, where members of the union, particularly those in seafaring and dock labor, face inadequate compensation and insurance coverage in the event of accidents or deaths, is unacceptable.

Adeyanju urged employers to provide top-notch safety measures and viable compensation mechanisms to safeguard the lives of maritime workers.

“As we celebrate this day, let us remember the sacrifices of maritime operators who have lost their lives at sea, ports, jetties, terminals, quay aprons and oil and gas platforms.

“Let us honour the memory of our dearly departed members by recommiting to safety. Let us reaffirm our dedication to safety and security as we navigate the future together with safety first,” he said.

While emphasizing the crucial role of maritime workers, Adeyanju stressed the importance of pioritizing their training, welfare and mental health, particularly for seafarers to ensure they can perform their duties safely and effectively.

The MWUN boss expressed displeasure over the failure by some employers to honour the National Joint Industrial Council ( NJIC) agreement set up to negotiate and review compensation, remuneration and working conditions for seafarers.

He regreted that aged seafarers who worked for the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line ( NNSL) are yet to receive their pensions 28 years after liquidation.

“Some of the employers don’t have regards for the NJIC agreement signed by NIMASA. DG Sir, I want you to look into this. A situation where the right of the seafarers and dockworkers are not been given in line with the NJIC that we sign with them under your command is affecting the seafarers and dockworkers,” Adeyanju said.

The theme of this year’s World Maritime Day is ‘ Navigating the Future: Safety First”.

Photo caption:

L-R: President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju; Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola and Director, Consumer Affairs Department, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Glory Onodejo, at the celebration of the 2024 World Maritime Day in Lagos on Thursday.