New data from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reveals abandonment of seafarers by ship-owners increased by 87% in 2024 from the previous year.
The ‘Marrakech Policy’, adopted at the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s (ITF) 46th Congress in Marrakech, Morocco, in October 2024, now forms the governing framework for the global union’s campaigning work on Flags of Convenience (FOC).
The policy is the culmination of five years’ work by union representatives from ITF maritime affiliates to examine, plan and develop a new strategy in line with the shifting reality faced by seafarers since 2010 – when the preceding Mexico City Policy was adopted at the ITF’s 42nd Congress in Mexico City.
The Marrakech Policy, adopted by the Joint Seafarers’ and Dockers’ conference, sets out the minimum conditions the ITF and its affiliated unions will accept on FOC merchant ships. In doing so, it incorporates the new understanding of the critical importance of global supply chains that emerged out of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the central role for shipping and seafarers in combatting climate change through a just transition.
The Marrakech Policy will now form the baseline for the ITF’s Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA), which set the wages and working conditions for crews on FOC vessels, irrespective of nationality.
A pilot program that will rebuild national merchant shipping in Australia is underway, marking a significant victory for the Maritime Union
While shipping companies profit from the Red Sea crisis, seafarers are paying the price.
The Palau-flagged Serafina is the worst seen by ITF Inspector Assaf Hadar in four years of inspecting ships in Israel
2023 was the worst year ever seen for seafarer abandonment – and ITF inspectors recovered nearly US$60 million in unpaid wages
Abdul Nasser Saleh is finally home with his family in Egypt, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is delighted to announce.
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) adds two new countries to its longstanding list of Flags of Convenience.
Incidents in the Red Sea illustrate the dangers of allowing ‘flags of convenience’ to proliferate.
In the worst case of serial seafarer abandonment ever seen, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) condemns Middle East Marine LLC for its systematic abuse and neglect of over 100 seafarers. &nb
