Social Dialogue

Social dialogue refers to structured discussion between the organisations which represent workers and employers, known as social partners. The EU supports social dialogue at European level, and the ETF Maritime Transport Section is a recognised social partner for the maritime sector. 

Together with the maritime employers’ organisation, the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), we sit on the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee (SSDC) for Maritime Transport. In the SSDC we try to persuade ECSA that we can and should work together to meet the challenges facing the European maritime sector. In particular, we aim for agreements that ensure a level playing field for European seafarers to safeguard jobs and career development, and to ensure decent terms and conditions, high level of knowledge and training, and the enjoyment of social rights and effective social protection. 

In maritime transport there are many areas where European trade unions and employers can work together. The sector is facing many challenges. The number of EU seafarers employed on EU-flagged ships has fallen rapidly in recent years, and only a minority of the world’s vessels now sail under EU-country flags. EU regulation has opened up national markets to competition (the so-called maritime cabotage policy). Globalisation and the use of ‘open registers’ – commonly referred to by unions as Flags of Convenience – confront European norms with the standards of countries that are much less worker-friendly in terms of tax, social legislation, and safety and environmental standards. 

The SSDC is currently focusing on various topics, including:  

• Skills and career development in the shipping sector. 
• Improving occupational health and safety – especially shipboard living and working conditions, including onboard communication facilities. 
• The reduction of administrative burdens on seafarers and shipowners. 
• The facilitation of transfer, transit and shore leave for seafarers entering the Schengen area. 
• Tackling the barriers to the recruitment and retention of female workers in the industry, promoting better employment conditions and a gender-friendly workplace. 
• Developing a project about data collection on maritime professionals. 

The SSDC has delivered progress for European seafarers, such as: 

• Projects to support seafarers in their career planning and development. 
• An SSDC agreement on the exclusion of seafarers, which led to EU Directive 2015/1794. 
• Joint demands for the EU and its member states to improve the legislation on seafarers’ labour rights. 
• Joint statements on piracy, health and safety, visas, and the role of merchant shipping in the Mediterranean refugee crisis. 
• Guidelines, training materials and an awareness-raising video for a harassment and bullying-free workplace in shipping.