International concerns over ship worker safety

The global ship-breaking industry is under the spotlight with growing concerns over its safety.

In the latest threat to worker safety, French president Jacques Chirac recalled the toxic warship Clemenceau back to France, after fears were raised about the safety of workers receiving the ship in India. The ship contained tones of asbestos and other hazardous substances.

"This case shows just how series the lack of decent global standards is in ship-breaking," said Marcello Malentacchi, general secretary of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF). He added: "Thousands of workers in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and elsewhere face daily exploitation and exposure to life-threatening hazards due to the inability of the international system to establish and enforce standards.

The IMF and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has been long been critical of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) blocking of a plan to harmonise shipbreaking guidelines.

The IMO's stance at a December 2005 meeting on harmonisation is believed by the IMF to have set progress back by as much as five years.

Item provided courtesy of ICFTU