In this portal seafarer means a seafarer as defined by the Merchant Shipping Act (includes fishers).
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) & Maritime Welfare Unit is a national unit within SAMSA responsible for amongst others seafarer welfare issues which includes labour disputes in all South African Ports and harbours.
South Africa has an obligation under the Merchant Shipping Act to look after the welfare of South African seafarers and foreign seafarers working on South African flagged vessels. South Africa has additional obligation under international conventions to look after the welfare of seafarers visiting the ports/harbours within its territory. The two maritime labour conventions with objectives of ensuring that seafarers have decent working conditions on board vessels are the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (all seafarers except fishers) and the Working in Fishing Convention C188, 2007 (fishers). South Africa has ratified both the conventions. SAMSA has developed a seafarer welfare programme in line with section 3, objective 1 and 3 of the SAMSA Act. The programme focuses on the following:
South African seafarer welfare (regardless of status of the vessel and their location – limited jurisdiction), including foreign seafarers working on South African vessels. Seafarer Welfare of international seafarers visiting South Africa's Ports and harbours
Objectives of the seafarer welfare programme: Centralise the seafarer welfare complaints and issues. Provide assistance to seafarers with problems pertaining to living and working conditions onboard ships. Provide a platform for South African seafarers where they can always find a home even when out at sea. Make South African ports and harbours a haven for visiting seafarers Provide guidelines to the industry on seafarer welfare including GBV, violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. Provide counselling and referral services to seafarers in need of the service.
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