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According to the statement, ITF actions are based on consistently “new” accusations of the company saying that it is in breach of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. The latest incident took place in the port of Ghent (Belgium) with the crew of M/V Lazurit (flag of Russia) on March 17, 2014.
As North-Western Shipping Company operating the vessels flying the flags of the Russian Federation, it is obliged to comply with all the statutes of the Russian law of employment, work safety and labour conditions. These statutes are tougher as compared with those applied to the flag of convenience ships.
Each vessel flying the flag of the Russian Federation and operated by the North-Western Shipping Company is certified under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The minimum monthly basic wages for able seafarers of the Company have always been and continue to be in compliance with ILO Recommendation 187 with regard to the wages amount and payment conditions as defined on an annual basis by the Joint Maritime Commission, and as of January 1, 2014 are at least equal to $585.
Currently, the interests of the North-Western Shipping Company’s seamen are represented by the Water Transport Trade Union of the Russian Federation (WTTU) in accordance with the existing collective bargaining agreement. The WTTU is not an associated member of ITF. There are no members of ITF/FSU among the seamen employed by the Company. Therefore, contrary to what is alleged by ITF/FSU, they do not have any power to check compliance with ILO requirements in the territory of Finland, and their allegations regarding the minimum wages of the Company’s seamen are unfounded and inaccurate.
The statement says that the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and affiliated Seafarers’ Union of Russia should realize that claims about the North-Western Shipping Company’s employment terms are actually an assault on the Russian legislation.
The North-Western Shipping Company intends to protect its reputation and the right of its employees to safe labour by all means necessary as permitted by the Russian and international laws.
The North-Western Shipping Company believes that all administrative, civil and criminal liability for the illegal actions referred to above lies with ITF/FSU and, in particular, their representatives whose unlawful acts will in any way directly or indirectly prejudicial to the rights and lawful interests of the crews, vessels, cargo, the Company or the Shipowners, the statement says.
North-Western Shipping Company is the largest carrier in Russia’s water transport system, specializing in shipping import / export general cargo, bulk and loose dry cargo, tugging of oversized cargo and vessels.
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North-Western Shipping Company comments on delay of loading in FinlandNorth-Western Shipping Company (NWSC OJSC) has published explanations concerning distorted information published by certain media about the delay of loading NWSC vessels in Finland.
The information relates to the events of March 10, 2014 when loading/unloading operations at NWSC vessel were illegally terminated at the port of Pori (Finland) by the representatives of the Finnish Seamen’s Union (FSU), a member of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITWF).
NWSC was unfoundedly accused by FSU representatives of noncompliance with ILO requirements to guarantee the minimum monthly basic wage for seafarers at $585. FSU representatives also demanded that NWSC sign a new collective arrangement with ITF and threatened with termination of the loading in case the demand is not fulfilled, which actually happened.
Following the incident, NWSC went to the local court of Finland which acknowledged FSU actions as illegal (decision as of March 11, 2014) and ordered to resume the loading operations.
In this context, North-Western Shipping Company OJSC states that present interests of NWSC seamen are represented by the Water Transport Trade Union of the Russian Federation in compliance with the collective labour agreement. The Union is not an associated member of ITF. NWSC seamen are not in the lists of ITF/FSU. Therefore, ITF/FSU is not authorized to carry out inspection of compliance with ILO requirements in the territory of Finland while the information about NWSC seamen’s minimum wages is unfounded and inaccurate. Each vessel flying the flag of the Russian Federation and operated by NWSC is certified under Maritime Labor Convention, 2006. Minimum monthly basic wage for able seafarers of NWSC is $585.
North-Western Shipping Company considers ITF/FSU actions as a willful attempt to cause economic and reputational damage to the company.