Liberia News: ITF Urges Gov’t To Elevate Status Of Liberian Seafarers

Liberia-The Administration of London-based ‘International Transport Federation (ITF), is calling on the Liberian Government through Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah to elevate the status of Liberian seafarers by securing jobs on vessels plying the Liberian Flag on sea.

A Labour Ministry release said the Africa Regional Secretary of the International Transport Federation, Mohammed DaudaSafiyanu who is leading a high-level delegation of his organization to Liberia sounded the plea during a meeting with Liberia’s Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr. at the Ministry in Monrovia.

The Labour Ministry press release quotes the ITF Africa Regional Secretary Safiyanu as disclosing that with Liberia as the second largest maritime nation, only next to Panama, it was regrettable that Liberia has no seafarers on board any of the registered vessels.

The ITF top official who was accompanied to his meeting with Labour Minister Kruah by the leadership of the United Seamen, Ports and General Workers Union of Liberia and (USPOGWUL), is further quoted by the release as outlining the major positive economic impact of the recruitment of local seafarers on foreign vessels, thus relieving government of accompanying social burden.

“There are over 5,000 Liberian registered vessels plying the Liberian Flag of convenience, yet not a single Liberian seafarer is on board any of them; this is a regrettable contrast and this is why we from the ITF today join our Liberian counterparts to appeal to you, the Labour Minister and Government, to intervene and seek the consent of these maritime entities to recruit Liberian seafarers on board and bring them economic and labour benefits,” the Labour Ministry press release further quotes the ITF official as pleading during the meeting.

Mr. Safiyanu also called on Labour Minister Kruah to engage authorities of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) to enhance coordination with owners of foreign vessels, currently enjoying the benefits of the Liberian Maritime Registry to recruit qualified local seafarers, in a bid to enable them exercise their profession with economic rewards and international exposure, the Labour Ministry press release added.

Mr. Safiyanu also called on Minister Kruah to prevail on the National Government in securing a land spot for the construction of a modern recreation center under the ITF “Maritime Affiliate Program (MAP)”, for Liberian seafarers as now benefiting their colleagues under international maritime initiatives, around the world.

In response, Labour Minister Kruah acknowledged the vital labour and economic impact of maritime programs on citizens of related nations around the world, acknowledging that prior to the ascendancy of the current Government of President Joseph NyumahBoakai, not much was accrued from Liberia’s huge contributions to international maritime programs.

Labour Minister Kruah is quoted by the press release as, however, assuring the ITF Delegation that the visit has provided him an in-depth insight into the enormous benefits of the country’s maritime potential in improving lives of Liberian seafarers; saying,” as the Labour Minister, I promise to open discussions with partners at  the Liberia Maritime Authority and the Union, in reaching out to owners of Liberian registered vessels to secure job placement for our seafarers.”

The release further disclosed that The Liberian Labour Minister also informed the visiting ITF Regional Secretary Safiyanu of the Ministry’s ongoing nation-wide assessment tour of the industrial labour sector, aimed at ensuring more employment opportunities and economic stimulus for citizens.

Minister Kruah then welcomed the request by the ITF official for land spot to build recreation center local seafarers, adding that such initiative will greatly enhance their welfare, having spent protracted time on Sea away from normal family lives.

Earlier, two officials of the United Seamen Ports and General Workers Union of Liberia (USPOGWUL) Madam Jackie Doe and Freeman Gweh, joined their visiting ITF counterparts in calling on the Liberian Government through Labour Minister Kruah, to engage owners of foreign vessels under the Liberian Flag on sea, to provide job opportunities for Liberian seafarers.

The local union leaders then lauded Labour Minister Kruah for opening regular engagements with trade union officials since his ascendancy as the Minister, describing this as, “beginning of a new positive chapter within the country’s tripartite sector.”

Meanwhile, Labour Minister Kruah and team are expected to depart Monrovia shortly for the second leg of the ongoing nation-wide labour activities at major industrial companies, with the aim to secure more job opportunities for Liberians and improvement in the labour sector.