Page 25 - Annual Review 2021 full

Annual Review 2021

conditions in line with the MLC 2006, Labour Rules 4. Trainee Employment Agreement
2016 and MS Notice 7 of 2020. We thank the unions The Indian Labour Rules 2016 published by the
for their continued co-operation. Government of India, governing seafarers service
conditions on board Indian flag vessels, in line
3. Covid - 19 Pandemic, effect on Seafar- with MLC 2006 specifies that any person who is
ers and creation of Whatsapp groups for employed or engaged or works in any capacity on
assistance of members board a ship, is a seafarer and the service conditions
The Covid-19 Pandemic had significant impact on specified in the Labor Rules/MLC are applicable to
the Shipping industry and on seafarers. The travel all persons employed on board a vessel.
restrictions imposed by the governments around
the world created immense difficulties for crew Since all trainees on board are now considered
changes and their repatriation to their hometowns. to be seafarers, thus in compliance with MLC
2006, a Trainee Employment Agreement has been
Prolonged service on board the vessels, without formulated, covering all service conditions under
even stepping ashore even in Indian ports, created MLC. The trainees are exempted by the Directorate
mental stress and poor health conditions for from any contributions towards PF or any other
seafarers on board ships. funds as well as from the benefit of social security.

In the pandemic situation, with travel and many other The above Trainee Agreement is now being updated
restrictions imposed by the government, including in line with the provisions of the national guidelines
lockdown, the shipowners were finding it very for employment of Indian seafarers on board Indian
difficult to replace serving seafarers or to find valid flag vessels, published by the Directorate vide MS
certificate holding seafarers as replacement as all Notice7 of 2020 dated 24-04-2020. DGS approval
maritime training centers had closed down and no is awaited for its implementation.
CoC or CoP examinations were being conducted
by the DG Shipping during the lockdown. When the Trainee Employment Agreement
comes into force, it would replace indentures and
INSA took up the issue of non-availability of valid streamline the service conditions of the trainees on
certificate holding officers and ratings with the board the Indian vessels.
Directorate General of Shipping and requested
for extension of validity of certificates of officers 5. Maritime Education & Survey – Report
and ratings as they were unable to appear for on training practices in India
examinations due to prevailing circumstances. The Maritime Training Trust (MTT) of the Government of
certificates were accordingly extended by DGS to India had proposed to carry out a custom study of
enable seafarers to serve on the vessels with their all aspects of the professional life of the seafarers,
existing certificates. including maritime education and training in India.
The Training & Research Committee of INSA was
On similar grounds, the extensions were sought tasked with this job and with the assistance of
for ships survey certificates, dry docking and other Tolani Maritime Institute, a comprehensive survey
statutory surveys. These were also granted by was carried out for the first time in India.
the Directorate General of Shipping for seamless
operations of the ships. The respondents included active seafarers; from
management, operational and support levels,
In order to sign on/off Indian seafarers in Indian including representatives of shipping companies,
ports, a SOP was issued by the Directorate with a administration/ Class surveyors, faculty members of
laid down procedure with E pass facilities to enable MTIs and pre-sea students. Their views were sought
seafarers to travel across all states for proceeding covering various aspects such as career, colleagues’/
on leave/joining/ signing off the vessels. seniors’ perception, competency, employment
contract, culture including discrimination and
During the lockdown, in order to establish harassment, enhanced training, fatigue and stress,
coordination between the members and the DG safety and environment, motivation and happiness
Shipping to overcome the problems related to and Maritime Administration.
sign on/off of crew members in various Indian
ports, their repatriation and difficulties arising out The final report of the survey, titled “Navik Jeevan”
of extension of certificates, WhatsApp groups of (Life of Seafarers), was released by Shri Sarbananda
various committees were established to enable Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping &
them to communicate regarding the issues faced Waterways, Government of India on 2nd December
as and when they arose. 2021. Mr. Amitabh Kumar IRS, Director General of
Shipping and his team members at the DGS also
attended the event.

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