- 5 -
(ii)
agreement take no cognizance of the agreement
reached between representatives of various Governmento,
national maritime authorities, employers & employee
organisations which met, under the aegis of the
International Labour Organisation, in Geneva, in
October 1970 at the 55th (maritime) session of the
International labour Conference. At this conference,
the minimum basic wage of an Able Sealau was agreed
at the equivalent of £42 or US$100 (whichever was the
greater at currency conversion rates. So far a8
Hong Kong is concerned the conversion would be £42 = HK$613). The I.T.F. agreement on the other
hand calls for a monthly basic wage rate of 292 for
an Able Seaman.
When the crews are not already members of an appropriate
bona fide national union affiliated to the I.T.F. the owners
must, provide a crew list and enrol all members of the crew
in the I.T.F.'s seafarers' section. Enrolment fee £4 per man and the annual contribution £8 per man, paid by the
shipowner.
(iii)
Owners contribute to the I.T.F.'s Seafarers' International
Assistance, Welfare and Protection Fund at the rate of £48
per man per annum.
14.
a
*
The view has been expressed by the H.K. Shipowners Association
that I.1.0. Recommendation 109 on Wages, Hours of Work and Hanning, as
amended following the Geneva Conference in 1970, while in effect increasing the operating costs to many/shipowner it tended nevertheless to stabilize
that part of his costs for a reasonable period and enabled him to plan his
future operations. The Resolution, now made by the I.T.F., they regard as
unilateral and the effect on many shipowners throughout the world, they
consider, may well prove disastrous on account of the crippling increase in
costs. There would be a consequent hardship on employees as a result of
retrenchment or cessation of business.
...../6.