New sailor labour law looks to improve conditions of Georgian seafarers sailing under foreign flags
Georgia will adopt a new law on labour of sailor professionals to improve conditions of Georgian seafarers sailing under the flags of other countries and secure additional social guarantees for them, Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili announced on Monday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge
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Georgia will adopt a new law on labour of sailor professionals to improve conditions of Georgian seafarers sailing under the flags of other countries and secure additional social guarantees for them, Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili announced on Monday.
Davitashvili said the adoption of the law stemmed from the Government's decision to join the 2006 International Convention on Maritime Labour, which brings together 1,200,000 seafarers and protects their social and labour rights.
I think this will improve the conditions of Georgian seafarers sailing under the flag of different countries, create and secure additional social guarantees, and also protect the rights of those working on vessels sailing under the flag of Georgia. This will further increase the reputation of our flag and also increase the demand for and prestige of Georgian seafarers", Davitashvili said.
Davitashvili said qualifications of Georgian seafarers were currently recognised by almost 80 different nations including 20 European countries, adding the profession was “quite in demand".
He also added about 14,000 seafarers were registered in Georgia, with their contribution to the economy “quite large” at over $200 million “according to various estimates".
Georgian seafarers saved the lives of 52 people, including seven women and three children, in the Atlantic Ocean during a five-point storm last week, the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia announced on Wednesday.
Georgian seafarers can now be employed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) maritime industry as a result of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Economy of Georgia and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE.
Georgian seafarers can now be employed in Australian maritime industry as a relevant Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the two countries.
Georgia is ready to perform the function of a transit country in the process of the repatriation of seafarers starting June 15, announces the Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava. Turnava said that Georgia has taken into account the guidelines and requirements of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), which, despite the strict safety standards, greatly simplifies the process of moving seafarers across the country.
Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi on Saturday marked the annual International Day of the Seafarer with sailors and students of Batumi State Maritime Academy marching from the city’s seaside boulevard strip to its port on the backdrop of a brass band performance to celebrate the date.