Ship owners and shipping agents have rallied behind the government’s move to establish a Seafarers’ wages council aiming to enhance terms and working conditions for Kenyan seafarers.
The proposed council will have representatives from COTU, Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and the Ministry of Labour.
The decision follows a series of consultative meetings spearheading the process through the National Labour Board (NLA) and representatives of various stakeholders in the maritime and shipping industry.
NLA board chair David Siele said there was merit and justification for the establishment and operationalization of the council after receiving views and submissions from the main actors in the industry.
These included the Kenya Maritime Authority, International Trade Federation and the Seafarers Union of Kenya during a meeting held at the Kenya Maritime Authority offices in Mombasa.
“Employers are key stakeholders whose insights and perspectives are necessary as we embark on this process,” Siele said.
While arriving at the decision, the board further appointed a select committee which held a two-day consultative meeting with ship owners and shipping agents to apprise them on the planned establishment of the Council.
Representatives of the employers who attended the meeting acknowledged and welcomed the formation of the proposed Wages Council, saying there is an urgent need to have a functional Wage Council to govern the sector and ensure better pay and working conditions for seafarers.
“There has been a missing link between the seafarers, Ship Agents, and Ship owners in relation to fighting for the seafarers' wages, the Wage Council is the right entity which will implement this mandate effectively,” Kenya Shipping Agents Associations CEO Juma Tellah said.
East African Deep Fishing Limited and East African Shipping Management representative Naomi Torerei contended that employers were faced with challenges in setting the wages for seafarers due to lack of established salary structures.
Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers in its presentation noted that a functional wage council will work for the best interest of ship owners and the seafarers since there will be agreed laws and regulations to govern the hiring and firing of seafarers.
The Chair of the Select Committee Areba Samba thanked the employers for their candid contribution.
“Our meeting has been consultative and aims at ensuring that the establishment of the Seafarers Wages Council is a collaborative effort, tripartite in nature and that it incorporates the perspective of all relevant stakeholders,” Samba said.
“Well motivated seafarers will lead to a more productive workforce in the Kenyan maritime and shipping sector. Similarly, a fair and well-regulated maritime sector will attract and retain skilled seafarers, boosting Kenya’s maritime competitiveness on the global stage."