Government to adopt collective agreement for seafarers

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Friday, 19 March 2021 08:50

Government to adopt collective agreement for seafarers

(Togo First) - In Togo, representatives of the public administration, economic operators, and trade union leaders, began on March 17 in Adétikopé (a northern suburb of Lomé), a workshop to draw a draft collective agreement for sea traders.

The works, launched by Ismaël Komi KODJO, Director of Cabinet of the Minister of Maritime Economy, Fisheries, and Coastal Protection, will last three days. Stakeholders present at the meeting should agree on a first framework document taking into account the living and working conditions, placement, contracts, vacations, training, conflict management, social guarantees, and retirement of seafarers and other workers at sea.

For the government, this is an intermediate step before the final adoption of a new legislative framework in the sector. "The collective agreement of seafarers takes into account all the problems related to marine work. The document that will come out of this meeting will be subject to another validation workshop before its final adoption by the government," said Matchonnawè BAKAI, Director of Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

Meanwhile, unions are pleased with the recognition of status. "This is about showing respect to the maritime heritage by promoting decent living and working conditions for seafarers and improving transport at sea," said Paulin Beguedou, captain and president of UMATO (Union of Seafarers of Togo).

The collective agreement, it should be noted, will consolidate the maritime legislative framework governing the law of December 13, 2006, on the code of sea labor and that of October 11, 2016, on the code of the sea trade in Togo.

Klétus Situ

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