ITF E-Circular No. 087/D/F/IN/S/SS/2020

2020.3.17

Covid-19 新冠病毒疫情已蔓延全球，為了抑制疫情，已有越來越多國家開始實施旅行限制，讓醫務人員有時間照顧所有受感染的病患、處理目前的緊急情況。

航運業是全球物流鏈中舉足輕重的角色，90% 的貨物都必須經由海上運輸，因此在如今疫情爆發的緊急情況下，讓航運盡可能維持以最佳狀態運行，以滿足世界各地的需求，是十分重要的。

部分重要勞力輸出國，如菲律賓及烏克蘭皆已關閉邊境，因此更換船員變得更加難以執行。

航運界各部門目前正在設法維持最重要的原物料和補給品物流，ITF 與社會夥伴（包括 JNG）討論之後，目前已了解多數船旗國已針對《海事勞工公約》(MLC)（規則 2.5 標準 A2.5.1 第2(b)段）中規定的最長在船服務時間給予通融。

為了減緩無法更換船員所衍生的問題，ITF 決定，於 2020 年 3 月 17 日至 2020 年 4 月 16 日期間，即使合約延長會使船員的服務時間超出 ITF 核准的相關團體協約（或 MLC）所允許的最長期限，若個別船員同意，ITF 也不會對合約延長提出異議（最長期限為一個月）。

當然，即便有上述的旅行限制，如果船員在合約到期時有充分的遣返理由，社會夥伴應詳加評估其情況。有關遣返的問題，應考量船員的個人意願。

團結一致

賈桂琳．史密斯
海事協調員

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The spread of Covid-19 has been affecting the whole world and more and more countries are introducing travel restrictions in an effort to slow down the pandemic and to allow medical staff time to look after all affected and deal with this emergency.

The shipping industry plays a pivotal role in the global logistics chain and 90% of all goods are transported by sea so it is essential that this key function is allowed to continue to perform as close to its best as possible in this hour of dire need for communities worldwide.

Some of the key labour providing countries for shipping like the Philippines and Ukraine are amongst those that have closed their borders and, as such, crew changes are becoming practically impossible to implement.

All sectors of the shipping industry are working together to keep the vital flow of raw materials and supplies on the go and, in discussion with its social partners, [including JNG,] ITF has also learned that most flags have been issuing exemptions from the maximum service periods prescribed within the Maritime Labour Convention (Regulation 2.5 Standard A2.5.1 para 2(b)).

In order to mitigate problems surrounding the replacement of crew, the ITF has decided that during the period from 17 March 2020 to 16 April 2020, it will not challenge extensions of contracts of up to one month, even when these push the seafarers service periods past the maximum allowable by relevant ITF approved CBA [or MLC], provided individual seafarers consent to such extensions.

It goes without saying that, should a seafarer have a solid case for being repatriated at the end of their contract despite the above mentioned travel restrictions, their case will be evaluated further by the social partners. The wishes of any individual seafarer should be taken into account when considering repatriation.

In solidarity,

Jacqueline Smith
Maritime Coordinator