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Sea rescue: big brands take control list to take crew home Business and Economy News

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An estimated 200,000 crew members are stuck in merchant ships around the world in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Unilever Plc and other major retail brands include a giant set of tools in an effort to inspect their shipping supply chains, return people stuck in commercial vessels home, and eliminate human rights risks.

The voluntary initiative, which will be launched later this week, calls on companies that place cargo in shipping containers to address the problems caused by the government’s restrictions on crew changes. It is estimated that more than 200,000 crew members around the world are still stuck in ships after their contracts have ended and safety standards accepted worldwide have been exceeded.

The program – which is part of the UN Global Compact project – is also expected to be supported by a powerful Consumer Goods Forum, an organization that includes hundreds of the world’s largest consumer companies, including Coca-Cola Co., Marks & Spencer Group Plc and Nestle SA.

“Companies, from multinational companies to global brands, have a responsibility to respect the human rights of maritime suppliers as employees throughout the supply chain,” said Sturla Henriksen, UN Special Adviser on Global Compact on Maritime Affairs. “There is a big gap between business will and human rights business actions. This tool wants to deal with that. “

Practical steps

Any company that places any cargo on the ships will be encouraged to use the checklist; among other things, clauses are not added to shipowners and those who hire space on board to support crew changes and prevent baggage downs.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that large freight companies are avoiding hiring certain vessels or setting conditions that block crew changes to alleviate depleted seafarers. Brands are also being encouraged to work with unions and the shipping chamber to demand a thorough inspection of their supply chain – up to the ships used to transport their cargo as part of the human rights due diligence initiative.

Unilever, like Bloomberg, was able to review program details before launch, according to Supply Chain CEO Marc Engel, with the intention of adopting a set of tools. Last year the company addressed a letter to world leaders asking them to help stuck seafarers. This latest initiative outlines the practical and specific steps that all businesses can take to ensure that their maritime logistics directs human rights flags, Engel said.

Engel said the toolkit should encourage frank discussion with suppliers as well as encourage dialogue about the costs of the shipping industry, which is fragmented and often uses a network of boat owners, renters and brokers.

Since the pandemic, some countries and their governments have restricted or restricted access to ships to prevent the spread of Covid to the people of the sea. A Bloomberg study published in September found numerous violations of international maritime law designed to protect seafarers, including allegations of unpaid overtime and insufficient medical care. There are fears that governments may tighten restrictions again as countries try to stem the tide of virus mutations.

The International Chamber of Shipping, an industry association representing shipowners, is co-sponsoring the new initiative, said Secretary-General Guy Platten. “The crew change crisis is not over,” he said. The initiative calls on companies to put pressure on governments to put pressure on the industry, which Platten says will help.

Some of these brands that have made an effort to dive into supply chains have been impressed.

Fashion retailer TFG London conducted its supply chain research in 2020. He asked for a detailed map of the sea logistics network from his shipping partners and asked the seafarers ’union for help with some of the ships carrying his cargo for welfare checks. The company had five ships that had no agreement with the union.

“We felt powerless to act because we had no significant tools or levers to respond to this crisis,” said Francesca Mangano, TFG London’s corporate social responsibility and sustainability executive. “This tool is designed to drive change.”



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