Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-11-03-Speech-3-091"
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"en.19991103.7.3-091"2
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"Mr President, ensuring the same working hours for seafarers on board Community vessels as for seafarers on board vessels flying the flag of third countries using Community ports is undoubtedly a positive measure. Of course, I do not agree with the date of implementation of that measure being postponed until the end of 2002. It should have taken immediate effect.
May I take the opportunity, however, to denounce the unacceptable situation on ships at present. My country is a country with an advanced merchant navy and so we know what we are talking about. We have increased workloads and exploitation of seafarers by ship owners, and, at the same time, the situation with regard to health and safety of life at sea is worsening. We have many fatal naval accidents making ship owners wealthier and seafarers fewer.
Of course, those responsible for this situation are the politicians who allow unrestrained action to ship owners who, in many ways, are forcing their crews to work very hard in exceptionally dangerous conditions, very often pushing them to the limits of human endurance. Those same politicians are making reductions in the number of workers per ship. Therefore, if the real cause of the problems facing seafarers is not identified or recognised, then it would be pointless to introduce measures and create control mechanisms, such as the one concerning the rest period for seafarers which will not only be ineffective but will also be hypocritical as it will only increase workloads and lead to even greater exploitation. It is essential that demands for a five-day, 35-hour, working week with no more that 7 – 8 hours work per day, are met, and with pay rises. We must also put an end to regulations obliging seafarers to work a 12-hour day as standard. It is imperative that the operational crew members on board ships be increased.
In any case, Mr President, we support the just demands of the seafarers and we shall stand by them. And regardless of how positive those directives may be or whatever improvements may come of it, we cannot vote for them since they will eventually perpetuate the current unacceptable state of affairs."@en1
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