labour rights

ITF policy puts decent jobs for young transport workers at the heart of supply chains

Mark_D — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:27:09 +0000

ITF policy puts decent jobs for young transport workers at the heart of supply chains

The ITF’s Youth Employment and Decent Work in Supply Chains policy sets an authoritative framework for ensuring decent jobs throughout supply chains

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has launched its policy on Youth Employment and Decent Work in Supply Chains to support affiliated trade unions, young transport workers and employers in taking practical steps to ensure decent jobs for young workers.

The policy, which includes a practical checklist and monitoring indicators, is the result of the work of the ITF Young Transport Workers’ Committee and was endorsed by the ITF Executive Board in Berlin last week.

“This policy reflects the voices, experiences and priorities of young transport workers across the organisation,” said Nick Loridan, Co‑Chair of the ITF Young Transport Workers’ Committee and member of the ITF Supply Chain Accountability Working Group.

“It combines strong principles with practical tools to help unions and employers promote youth employment and create decent jobs for young workers, whether they are already in the sector or entering the transport industry.”

The policy sets out clear principles and actions to improve access to decent jobs, ensure job security, and improve health and safety, equality, and career development for young transport workers. It also outlines ways to strengthen collaboration between unions, employers and policymakers, alongside identifying priority areas for action and wider policy measures for adoption in order to ensure the long-term success of youth employment strategies.

The policy includes a checklist outlining concrete steps employers can take on recruitment, training, retention, safety, wellbeing and inclusion to promote quality youth employment across supply chains.

Crucially, it also includes monitoring indicators, specifically designed to help trade unions, employers and stakeholders track progress, measure impact and strengthen accountability on youth employment and decent work outcomes for young workers.

ITF Director of Young Transport Workers, Baker Khundakji, said: “We encourage all young transport workers and ITF‑affiliated unions to actively use this policy, the checklist and the indicators to organise and educate young workers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements and workplace policies, hold employers accountable, and to work together to promote decent work for young transport workers across supply chains.”

The full policy, checklist and indicators are available here.

Mark_D 22 Apr 2026

supply chain

global supply chains

human rights

labour rights

20 years of advancing social dialogue and decent work at sea

Mark_D — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:10:01 +0000

20 years of advancing social dialogue and decent work at sea

Joint statement from the International Labour Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, and International Transport Workers’ Federation on the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention

On the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, we jointly reaffirm our commitment to the principles and protections it embodies and recognise the profound impact it has had on seafarers and on global shipping.

The MLC consolidated and modernised around seventy maritime labour instruments into a single, comprehensive international framework. In doing so, it established enforceable minimum standards for wages, hours of work and rest, medical care, accommodation, repatriation and welfare, creating a clear and consistent global baseline for decent work at sea.

The adoption of the MLC was made possible through close and constructive tripartite cooperation between governments, shipowners and seafarers. That shared commitment ensured that the Convention is both ambitious in its protections and practical in its implementation across a truly global industry. This spirit of partnership has remained central to its continued strength and relevance.

Since its entry into force, the MLC has delivered tangible improvements in living and working conditions on board ships, strengthened compliance through flag and port state control, and provided a structured mechanism to address emerging challenges. Amendments adopted over the past decade enhanced financial security protections, supported seafarers in cases of abandonment and criminalisation, and reinforced safeguards in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and violence and harassment on board.

In a context of geopolitical uncertainty and climate transition which significantly affect shipping and seafarers, we reemphasise our shared resolve to ensure that the MLC remains robust and is fully implemented.

On this anniversary, we urge countries across the world to recognise seafarers as key workers. Protecting and advancing the standards of the MLC is essential for the dignity and welfare of seafarers and for the resilience and stability of global trade.

Mark_D 20 Feb 2026

labour rights

maritime labour convention

Seafarers

Global

Migrant Fishers to be Protected During Recruitment Under Landmark ILO Guidelines

Mark_D — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:28:45 +0000

Migrant Fishers to be Protected During Recruitment Under Landmark ILO Guidelines

ITF and ETF demand action from governments and industry to ensure “crucial step forward” for fishers

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) welcome the adoption of the new ‘Guidelines for Fair Labour Market Services for Migrant Fishers’ by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva last week, calling the move a “crucial step forward” for the protection of migrant fishers worldwide,

The new Guidelines, jointly developed by representatives of governments, fishing vessel owners and fishers’ organisations, set minimum global standards for how migrant fishers should be recruited, employed and protected at sea. They draw extensively on previous work carried out by the European Fisheries Social Partners.

“For too long, migrant fishers have been invisible in the global seafood industry – facing abuse and exploitation in their vital job of putting seafood on our plates. These are key workers that have been left without crucial rights,” said Johnny Hansen, Chair of the ITF Fisheries Section.

“This can be a crucial step forward for the protection of migrant fishers – but only if governments and employers act now, as they must.”

The Guidelines make clear that:

Migrant fisher recruitment must be free, fair and transparent
Contracts must be written and made available in languages migrant fishers understand
Migrant fishers must have decent working and living conditions
Migrant fishers must have access to justice

Once approved, the ITF and ETF are urging flag, port and labour-providing states to immediately begin implementing the Guidelines through national law and practice. This must include licensing and monitoring recruitment agencies, strengthening inspection systems, collecting data and ensuring access to grievance and redress mechanisms for fishers.

The ITF and ETF congratulate the UK for supporting the adoption of the Guidelines and noted the UK Government’s plan to establish a Fair Work Agency for the fisheries sector in April 2026.

“The UK’s planned Fair Work Agency can definitely be a game-changer on these issues, but only if it enforces the standards set out in the new Guidelines and has a remit in the fishing sector,” said Chris Williams, ITF Fisheries Section Coordinator. “That means fair recruitment, fair contracts, and genuine accountability for a sector reliant on migrant workers.”

The ITF and ETF are also calling on retailers, brands and seafood buyers to embed the Guidelines in their responsible sourcing frameworks.

“If your business profits from fish caught by migrant workers, you have an obligation to ensure those workers are recruited and treated fairly,” said Juan Manuel Trujillo, ETF Fisheries Section Chair. “The ITF and ETF will call out any company claiming to sell sustainable seafood if its supply chain relies on exploitation.”

The ITF and ETF stress that implementation must not remain voluntary or symbolic. Governments, vessel owners, and multinational buyers must all be held accountable for ensuring that migrant fishers are treated with dignity and fairness.

“These Guidelines are more than words on paper: they are a promise to the people who feed the world. It’s time for governments and employers to step up to make that promise real,” said Williams.

ENDS

If you are a fisher in need of support, contact the ITF via our Facebook Fishers Support page or email: fishsupport@itf.org.uk

Notes to Editor

Find the ILO Guidelines here.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) estimates that there are 33.6 million people working in fisheries worldwide.
While precise numbers are unknown, it is widely believed that there are significant numbers of migrant fishers working across global fleets, with those numbers varying across specific fisheries, e.g., small-scale domestic fisheries in coastal waters, where numbers are thought to be lower, as opposed to distant water fleets, where numbers are believed to be far higher.
In 2021, the ILO estimated that that there are at least 128,000 victims of forced labour in the commercial fishing industry worldwide. Many of these are likely to be migrant fishers.

About the ITF:  The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve workers’ lives, connecting more than 730 affiliated trade unions from over 150 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for workers globally. We are the voice for more than 16.5 million transport workers across the world.

Media contact: Mark Dearn +44 7738 832 413 media@itf.org.uk

Mark_D 18 Nov 2025

Dutch court rules that ‘preliminary questions’ on ‘Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause’ to be put to EU Court of Justice

Mark_D — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:27:56 +0000

Dutch court rules that ‘preliminary questions’ on ‘Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause’ to be put to EU Court of Justice

Today, the Dutch Court of Appeal ruled that preliminary questions will be brought before the European Union (EU) Court of Justice on the Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause (NSWC).

The EU Court of Justice will be requested to shed light on whether the NSWC forms a breach on the freedom of free competition and, if so, whether the NSWC is justified considering the fundamental freedom of collective bargaining.

As a result, at this moment, the initial positive ruling of the Rotterdam Court confirming the validity of the NSWC still stands.

The ITF and its affiliated unions uphold the principle that social partners, through collective bargaining, can jointly decide what best serves the interests of workers. The purpose of the NSWC is to safeguard the work and rest hours of seafarers by ensuring dock workers perform port tasks, such as lashing.

The ITF and its affiliated unions will defend the NSWC before the EU Court of Justice.

“We remain steadfast in defending the NSWC, because seafarers’ safety and rest hours are non-negotiable. Therefore, the ITF will continue to campaign strongly and continuously on an agreed clause negotiated with the employers that is central and fundamental to the health safety and protection of both the seafarers and dockers involved,” said ITF President and Dockers’ Section Chair, Paddy Crumlin.

The ITF and its affiliated unions stand by the NSWC and the goal it aims to achieve: protecting seafarers’ rights, safety, and wellbeing.

END

Notes to Editors

Cargo handling and lashing – securing containers to the deck of a vessel, using heavy lashing bars and bottle screws – is dangerous work that should be undertaken by trained dock workers to mitigate safety risks.
Forcing seafarers to undertake cargo handling exposes them to danger in the task itself, while also elevating the risk of accidents at sea on vessels made unsafe by poorly lashed containers and other cargo. For seafarers, such tasks add to fatigue at the end of voyages when they should be resting or taking shore leave.

Mark_D 30 Sep 2025

Petrobras rejects sham union, ISU

Mark_D — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 12:46:01 +0000

Petrobras rejects sham union, ISU

Slovenian sham union’s sub-standard agreements dismissed by major Brazilian oil company

Notorious sham union, the International Seafarers’ Union (ISU), has been rejected by Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – the Brazilian Petroleum Corporation).

The ISU made an unsolicited approach to the multinational corporation in Brazil earlier this year, seeking to sell its fake union agreements for use on the Petrobras fleet of ships.

However, Petrobras only accepts International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) or ITF-equivalent agreements in the interests of protecting its seafarers from substandard pay and conditions.

Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Transporte Aquaviário e Aéreo, na Pesca e nos Portos (CONTTMAF) President and ITF Executive Board member, Carlos Muller, said: “We created a forum with Petrobras after a (Sindicato Nacional dos Oficiais da Marinha Mercante (SINDMAR) member suffered a very serious accident on a ship working for Petrobras.

“This is to ensure that we have strong agreements that will prevent such accidents from happening again: our seafarers deserve the very best working conditions, and this is a particular concern on ships flying ‘Flags of Convenience’ flags.”

In another case in Brazil, in December 2024, the ship Eleen Eva (IMO: 9527415) was abandoned in Paranaguá, Brazil, sailing under an ISU-Lanibra agreement – one many cases of abandonment, wage theft and arrests of ISU ships recorded by the ITF.

The crew of the ship, comprising 20 seafarers from India, Ukraine, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Türkiye and Russia, were left without USD178,000 in owed wages. Despite contacting ISU for help, the seafarers received no reply.

The ITF stepped in to record the abandonment, notify the flag state and – by the end of January 2025 – recover and return the wages to the seafarers.

The ITF is campaigning for ISU to be deregistered as a trade union in Slovenia, including hosting an e-action asking Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister, Luka Mesec, to deregister the organisation.

As outlined the ITF report, ‘A Sham Trade Union Undermining the Maritime Industry’, ISU is run by the same individuals behind Lanibra – a company openly selling anti-union services. This means that ISU directly violates international and national laws that forbid “interference” by employers in a union.

Slovenian national public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, covered the story of the sham union in June this year. Its evening news broadcast focused on this breach of international law and ISU Co-Founder and Executive Board President, and Lanibra Founder and Owner/Director, Branko Krznaric’s penchant for Rolex watches and Ferraris.

This clear conflict of interest and breach of international law was put to Krznaric by Slovenian national public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, where it was also revealed that the ISU website was edited during the filming of the news broadcast to make it appear that Krznaric held no senior role in the organisation.

“We don’t want an international union of shame endorsing poor working conditions on vessels,” said Muller.

“Our message is clear, no fake unions in Brazil.”

Mark_D 31 Jul 2025

ITF: Seafarer abandonment in 2025 poised to shatter 2024 record

Mark_D — Wed, 28 May 2025 10:11:05 +0000

ITF: Seafarer abandonment in 2025 poised to shatter 2024 record

New figures released by the ITF reveal that vessel abandonments have surged nearly 33% year on year.

By May this year, 158 cases of vessel abandonment had been recorded, up from 119 at the same point in 2024.

These cases represent more than 1,501 seafarers who have reached out to the ITF for assistance, many of whom were left unpaid, without food, water or access to ports, often for months at a time.

“Abandonment is a growing, systemic problem,” said Stephen Cotton, ITF General Secretary. “Behind every number is a human being who has been failed by the industry and the governments responsible for regulating it. The fact that we're on track to break last year’s appalling record is a sign that urgent reform is needed.”

Millions recovered, but the human cost is growing

In 2024, the ITF and its global network of inspectors recovered more than $58.1 million in unpaid wages for seafarers working on ships running ‘Flag of Convenience’ (FOC) registries that offer minimal oversight and have become a haven for exploitative shipping practices. Of that total, $13.5 million was returned to abandoned seafarers alone.

Already in 2025, ITF inspectors have helped recover $4.1 million for seafarers affected by abandonment. But as the number of cases climb, the Federation says it is increasingly concerned by the limits of enforcement.

“We’re dealing with owners who walk away from their obligations, often while sub-standard registers look on and do nothing,” said Steve Trowsdale, Head of the ITF Inspectorate. “In many cases, it's impossible to identify the owner, and flag states are either unwilling or unable to act. This is what makes the rise in cases so dangerous – impunity is growing across the board.”

Flags of Convenience: a scourge of the maritime industry

In response to growing concerns, the ITF has added Tuvalu and Guinea Bissau to its longstanding FOC list, bringing the total number of countries on the list to 45. Both countries are linked to so-called “shadow fleets” transporting sanctioned oil and evading regulatory scrutiny.

FOC states allow shipowners to register vessels in jurisdictions that offer minimal taxes, low labour standards, and secrecy over ownership – this means that seafarers on FOC ships face low wages, long hours and unsafe working conditions. Today, more than 50% of the world fleet is registered in FOC states, with more than 80% of abandoned vessels also registered to FOCs. The system has enabled unscrupulous actors to profit while leaving seafarers vulnerable to exploitation.

“Shipping is the engine of global trade, yet its workers are treated as disposable,” said Cotton. “We must expose and reform the FOC system. Every vessel must carry a flag that can prove a transparent, traceable link to its true beneficial owner, and regulators must be armed – and willing – to detain and penalise those who walk away from their crews.

"Only through that genuine link and robust enforcement will we eradicate the scourge of abandonment and build the safe, fair industry seafarers deserve.”

END

Notes

The ITF’s Flags of Convenience list can be found here. For more information on the ITF's campaign on this issue – first launched in Oslo in 1948 – see here.
At the end of 2024, Tonga was removed from the list, with Gabon and Eswatini added.
At the end of 2023, Cambodia was removed from the FOC list, with San Marino added.
Under international law, ships must be registered with a single country, even though they often operate in international waters. The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea states that there must be a “genuine link” between the ship and the flag state. In reality, genuine links between ships and flags often fail to exist.
A Flag of Convenience vessel is one that flies the flag of a country other than the country of ownership, at the same time adopting the regulations set down by that flag. The origins of the system lie in the United America Line using the Panama flag to circumvent prohibition in the 1920s.
Flags of Convenience offer countries without their own shipping industry a way to make easy money. The country can set up ship a registry and charge fees to shipowners, while having reduced standards for crew safety and welfare, and often failing to live up to the responsibilities of a genuine flag state. The real ship owner (what the ITF calls the ‘beneficial owner’) benefits from having its identity hidden and adopting the often poor regulatory standards of the flag, which can also include no restriction on the nationality of a crew. In many cases, these flags are not even run from the country concerned.

Mark_D 28 May 2025

ITF launches global standards to protect warehouse workers, backed by global logistics company

Rosalyn Smith — Tue, 27 May 2025 15:45:05 +0000

ITF launches global standards to protect warehouse workers, backed by global logistics company

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has launched the world’s first global standards for decent work in warehousing, distribution, and logistics, a major step towards raising the floor for millions of workers across global supply chains.

The "8 Principles for Decent Work" set out clear, enforceable benchmarks for safety, fair employment, dignity, and rights at work. These new standards are a blueprint for a sector that has grown exponentially due to e-commerce but remains plagued by low standards, unsafe conditions, short-term employment contracts, and inhumane algorithmic control.

“Warehousing is no longer just storage, it’s the engine room of the global economy,” said Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the ITF. “But the workers who keep goods moving are too often invisible and exploited. These principles are a call to action for companies, governments, and consumers to raise the bar and protect those powering the global supply chain.”

Matt Draper, ITF’s Warehousing Distribution & Logistics Chair, said: “These principles are a turning point for warehouse workers everywhere. For too long, this sector has relied on a hidden workforce facing dangerous conditions, low pay, and zero job security. The ITF’s new global standards give workers a voice, a path to decent pay, and a way to hold their employers accountable. This is about lifting standards across the board.”

Backed by major global company

Global logistics firm SeSé México – with over 1 billion Euros in annual turnover – is the first company to sign onto the new framework, committing to integrate the principles into their operations and pilot implementation in key warehousing hubs.

A spokesperson for SeSé México said, "At Sesé México, adhering to the "8 Principles for Decent Work" is not just an obligation, but a way of life at work, where the well-being of employees, and therefore of the company itself, is taken into account. Thus, we form a family with values that are evident in every activity. We are grateful for this recognition, which inspires us to continue respecting the principles that ensure decent and dignified work."

The 8 principles for decent work include:

Fundamental principles and rights at work: Grounded in the ILO Declaration, ensuring freedom of association, non-discrimination, and a safe working environment.
Safe jobs: Identifying and managing workplace hazards and ensuring worker participation in health and safety planning.
Secure and decent jobs: Advocating for stable, full-time employment, living wages, social protection, and fair scheduling.
Harassment and violence-free workplaces: Mandating strong anti-violence policies, gender-responsive redress mechanisms, and safe commuting.
Responsible use of technology: Calling for algorithmic transparency, limits on surveillance, and collective consultation on tech deployment.
Just Transition for climate-ready warehousing: Integrating decarbonisation with job security and resilience planning.
Freedom of association and collective bargaining: Reaffirming the right to unionise and negotiate, even in restrictive jurisdictions.
Effective grievance mechanisms: Promoting accessible, equitable, and rights-based redress systems with continuous learning and transparency.

These principles were developed through extensive consultation with warehouse workers and their unions. They draw on existing international labour standards, ensuring standards are both realistic and enforceable.

The ITF’s warehousing programme focuses on four pillars: securing employer commitments through collective bargaining, advocating for government regulation, educating workers, and holding companies accountable across supply chains.

“A stable and ethical supply chain is simply not possible without decent work,” added Cotton.

“With more than 150 million workers globally in warehousing, logistics and transport, the ITF’s new standard has the potential to transform lives, and the supply chain stability that economies rely on.”

Notes

With over 16.5 million members represented across more than 730 trade unions in 150+ countries, the ITF is championing these principles in response to growing concerns over exploitation and unsafe conditions within the warehousing sector, an industry under pressure from rapid e-commerce expansion and just-in-time delivery expectations.

Rosalyn Smith 27 May 2025

ITF exposes sham union endangering seafarers everywhere

Rosalyn Smith — Thu, 15 May 2025 12:42:30 +0000

ITF exposes sham union endangering seafarers everywhere

Shipping companies, financiers and governments across the world urged to cut ties with sham union, ISU-Lanibra.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is sounding the alarm on a growing threat to the rights and welfare of seafarers worldwide.

A coordinated scheme between a fake union registered in Slovenia, calling itself the International Seafarers’ Union (ISU), and a for-profit company named Lanibra, has been exposed as a global scam. Together, they sell cut-rate sham labour agreements to rogue shipping companies looking to slash costs, at the direct expense of seafarers’ rights, safety, and wages. The sham operation is clearly in breach of international labour laws.

The ITF’s exposé, ‘A sham trade union undermining the maritime industry’, launched today, reveals a disturbing pattern of seafarer abandonment, wage theft and fundamental rights violations across multiple continents, all enabled by ISU-Lanibra’s exploitative business model.

“You’ve got the same people running a private company that acts as an agent to shipowners, offering services to sideline genuine trade unions – and a sham union signing substandard agreements. It’s collusion, pure and simple,” said Paddy Crumlin, President of the ITF.

“They’re not involved in any tripartite processes. They don’t engage with the International Labour Organization or the International Maritime Organization. They have no role in the hard, institutional work of lifting standards across this industry. They undermine real social dialogue, real safety, real accountability. And that puts seafarers' lives at risk.

“The legal, moral, ethical and social responsibility of a trade union is to actively work in the service of its members,” said Crumlin.

ISU does none of that. They’re profiteering off the flesh and labour of seafarers. We will expose them.”

A global pattern of abuse

In the UK, two years after the notorious sacking scandal, it was revealed that replacement agency workers were paid less than half the legal minimum wage on P&O Ferries. Shockingly, these wages and conditions were detailed in documents, seen by the ITF, prepared for Philcrew and signed by ISU in 2023.
In Brazil, the Eleen Eva was abandoned with unpaid crew. ISU-Lanibra never responded to seafarers onboard; the ITF stepped in and recovered $178,000 in stolen wages.
In Australia, the Eleen Sofia was detained after ITF inspectors found the crew with no food onboard.
In Thailand, a seafarer sought assistance from ISU-Lanibra for unpaid wages, but his plea for help was ignored – until the ITF intervened and secured payment.

A conflict of interest that breaches International Law

The leadership of ISU and Lanibra is indistinguishable. Founder Branko Krznaric, a former ITF employee, created both entities and even registered Lanibra using the ITF’s London address.

Krznaric’s daughter, Lana Krznaric, serves on the executive board of the ISU and as Lanibra’s Director of Legal and General Affairs, while his other daughter, Nina Krznaric, acts as Lanibra’s Director of Operations. This family-run network blurs any separation between the so-called “union” and employer agent.

“While ISU claims to represent seafarers, Lanibra openly markets itself to shipowners as a tool to “deal with ITF inspectors” and resolve “labour issues”,” said David Heindel, Chair of ITF’s Seafarers’ Section. “They even boast about its insider knowledge of ITF operations. The same people selling sham agreements to shipowners are advising shipowners how to avoid legitimate unions.

“This is more than unethical, it’s illegal. Under Article 2 of ILO Convention 98, employer interference in union affairs is strictly prohibited. Slovenian law also requires unions to be independent from employers. ISU-Lanibra clearly fails on both counts.”

In an email obtained by the ITF, Krznaric directly pitched Lanibra’s services to shipowners, writing: “Many companies which are cooperating with my company Lanibra decided to cooperate with the International Seafarers’ Union (ISU).”

This dual role, acting on behalf of both employers and workers, is a textbook example of a ‘company union’: a fraudulent outfit designed to undercut real unions and strip workers of their rights.

The ITF is preparing legal engagements to address these breaches and calls on authorities to investigate and deregister ISU-Lanibra for breaching both international and domestic labour laws.

Call to action

The ITF is demanding immediate action from:

Shipowners and charterers: Terminate ISU-Lanibra agreements and adopt legitimate ITF agreements.
Financial institutions and investors: Apply ESG and Human Rights Due Diligence to end support for ISU-Lanibra-affiliated operations.
Governments: Investigate and regulate ISU-Lanibra activities under national and international labour standards.

The ITF is the global voice for 16.5 million transport workers, representing over 1 million seafarers through more than 200 unions worldwide.

In 2023 alone, it recovered over $57 million in stolen wages. Unlike ISU-Lanibra, the ITF maintains a 130-strong global inspectorate defending workers’ rights in over 110 ports worldwide.

“If you’re a shipowner, a charterer or an investor and you’re partnering with ISU-Lanibra, then you’re part of the problem,” warned Crumlin.

“You are complicit in wage theft, abandonment, and the degradation of employment standards of some of the most vulnerable workers in the world. There is no hiding behind ignorance. In today’s global supply chains, due diligence is not optional - it’s the law, it’s the expectation.”

For more information, visit: ISU Exposed

About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation of transport workers’ unions recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives; connecting trade unions and workers’ networks from 147 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice of the 16.5 million women and men who move the world.

Rosalyn Smith 15 May 2025

ITF and Panama reaffirm commitment to seafarer support

Mark_D — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:32:51 +0000

ITF and Panama reaffirm commitment to seafarer support

ITF and largest flag state continue joint work spanning seafarer abandonment, new technology and union agreement coverage.

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), ITF-affiliate, the Union de Ingenieros (UIM), and the General Directorate of Seafarers of the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) have jointly reaffirmed their commitment to supporting seafarers.

More than a year after the ITF and PMA signed a Memorandum of Understanding, the ITF convened a meeting in the Republic of Panama.

ITF Inspectorate Coordinator Steve Trowsdale said: "It was a pleasure meeting Maryluz Castillo, General Director of the Directorate of Seafarers. Our discussions were very productive, reaffirming our shared commitment to supporting seafarers.

“There’s no doubt that the ITF and the PMA share the same vision of working together to protect and support seafarers. And we look forward to working together more closely to enhance the welfare and rights of those who work at sea."

The ITF-PMA agreement seeks to enhance cooperation between the two parties in order to benefit seafarers on board Panama-flagged vessels, based on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, as amended.

The agreement’s key objectives include sharing best practice, providing support and sharing information on issues concerning seafarers – including abandonment, unpaid wages and the introduction of new technology, including alternative fuels and digitalisation.

Additionally, both parties will seek to work together to increase the number of Panama-registered vessels covered by ITF-approved agreements.

ITF Americas Regional Secretary, Edgar Díaz, ITF National Coordinator and UIM Member, Vladimir Small Ortiz, retired UIM member, Bernardo Campo, and Head of the PMA Maritime Labour Affairs Department, Mayte Burgos, joined the ITF’s Steve Trowsdale and PMA’s Maryluz Castillo at the meeting.

Mark_D 01 Apr 2025

Unity for aviation workers is strength

Sian Manaz — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:40:49 +0000

Unity for aviation workers is strength

As members of the global trade union movement – and representatives of aviation unions from across the globe – we stand united against the rising threat of chauvinism, nationalism and unilateralism casting an ominous shadow across the world.

We have already seen how quick right-wing governments around the world are to attack labour rights, including our fundamental principles and rights at work. These attacks erode democracy, fuel division and purposefully pit workers against fellow workers.

As trade unionists we believe that the collective power of trade unions is the most potent counterforce against threats of scarcity and false competition between workers that seeks to weaken our collective power.

Workplaces – whether on the ground or in the air – are the front line in the fight for our rights and democracy- from airport workers in the USA being stripped of their right to collectively bargain, to the Milei government threatening aviation union leaders with jail sentences. In the face of these attacks, we must build even stronger unions and federations to campaign for workers’ rights in our communities and across the world.

We must protect and advance the rights of working people to join unions, collectively bargain and uplift ourselves and each other.

As aviation workers we know that aviation is a diverse, global industry built on inclusivity – this is a principle that is non-negotiable, as it is fundamental to our history and identity.

We are proud that our industry’s workers come from different communities across the world, and that diversity is to be defended at our heart. This diversity is our strength, and we will not allow reactionary voices to push us into isolation.

We reject any knee-jerk slide into protectionism that rings hollow when these same voices clamour for deregulation and free-market policies elsewhere to the benefit of billionaires and oligarchs. These contradictions are only designed to mislead and divide us.

As representatives for aviation workers worldwide, we are laser-focused on what truly matters: safe, secure, and fair working conditions that uplift every aviation worker – and workers’ the world over.

Now more than ever, our unity is our power. An injury to one is an injury to all.

We, the civil aviation workers, united through the International Transport Workers’ Federation, will not cede ground to those who seek to weaken our rights or our democracy. Instead, we unite in solidarity—proud, resilient, and ready to defend and expand the freedoms that belong to us all.

Sian Manaz 20 Mar 2025