- Nigerian seafarers earn below ILO minimum wage
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) may have painted a rosy, but untrue, picture of the earnings of Nigerian seafarers, as the President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju claimed that the nation’s seafarers are the highest earners globally; yet seafarers tell a different story.
Adeyanju made this claim while engaging the Project Coordinator on Maritime Affiliate Support (MAS), International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) London, Mrs. Barning Annica Marie, who paid a working visit to the MWUN headquarters on Tuesday.
Comrade Adeyanju posited that the MAS project has been described as very significant in the lives of the Nigerian seafarers, which also stands to better the lots of the union in terms of increase in membership; and better negotiation on Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“This project had also put the country’s seafarers as the highest paid globally. The project is also making sure that seafarers get their certificate of competence (CoC) seamlessly from NIMASA amongst others,” the Union leader said.
In his swift response, a frontline seafarer and United States certified Anti-Piracy Security expert, Capt. Alfred Oniye has described MWUN’s claims that Nigerian seafarers are among world’s top earners as misleading and disheartening.
His words: “Amid claims that Nigerian seafarers are now among the highest paid globally, a closer examination of the maritime industry’s compensation landscape suggests a different reality.”
“Globally, seafarer salaries are governed by various factors, including the demand for maritime labor, the cost of living in different regions, and international standards set by bodies such as the ITF. While it is true that the ITF has been instrumental in advocating for better pay and working conditions, the assertion that Nigerian seafarers are among the highest paid warrants scrutiny.”
According to him, the fact that the Nigerian Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) is embroiled in ongoing discussions to address wage disparities and improve working conditions indicate that the issue of low pay remains a recognized problem within the sector.
Oniye argued that there are sufficient reports that categorize Nigerian seafarers among the lowest paid in the world, lamenting that the average monthly take-home pay for a Nigerian seafarer is significantly below the ILO minimum wage for Able Seamen.
“Such discrepancies raise questions about the veracity of claims regarding their high earnings. While the efforts of MWUN and the ITF are commendable, especially in securing better CBAs, the claim that Nigerian seafarers are now among the highest paid seems premature.”
“It is crucial for all stakeholders, including the government, maritime unions, and industry players, to work collaboratively towards a transparent and equitable wage structure that reflects the skill and dedication of Nigerian seafarers,” he remarked.
