South East Asia action concludes

18 November 2008. For immediate release

South East Asia action concludes

The ITF’s South East Asia action week closed on Friday after operations in seven countries in the region.

A particular focus for the week was the plight of exiled Burmese workers, and eight vessels with Burmese seafarers onboard are now under continuing observation by ITF inspectors. On two of them crews alleged double bookkeeping. In Indonesia, Rustandi Hanafi, ITF coordinator and President of the KPI union, met the Minister of Fisheries, Freddy Numberi, and his advisors to raise the issues of people smuggling and ‘social dumping’. The Minister said that he would do whatever he can to resolve these matters. The KPI also wrote to the Burmese Government to protest against its actions (letter available on request from Dawson_sam@itf.org.uk ).

Across the region eight vessels signed up to ITF agreements during the week of action, and six are negotiating agreements. Also during the week two vessels that had been targeted in the earlier East Asia week of action signed agreements.

ITF Maritime Coordinator Stephen Cotton said: “This week closed the way it began, with excellent coordination between seafarers, dockers and ITF inspectors nationally and internationally, and with unions working together in order to assist their members and counterparts across the region.”

ENDS

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