3.
In Pakistan where there is only state shipping activities, it was claim- ed that the ITF Campaign had resulted in an 80% reduction of her seamen working on board FOC vessels. It was also pointed out that the well meant action of the ITF affiliates in Australia and elsewhere in securing back pay for Pakistani seamen was actually doing more harm than good to them because these seafarers who received the money would be punished
by the government by being denied of employment on board ships for at least one and a half years. Although not yet an affiliate, the Hong Kong Amalgamated Seafarers' Union, also criticised the ITF micy on FCC vessels. Hard hitting remarks were similarly made by Singapore, Korea,
and Japan.
12.
On the whole, delegates upheld the principle that FCC vessels should be eventually phased out. (The Hong Kong ASU however described the FCC vessels as vessels of need.) However, they called upon the ITF to recognise the problems of the complexities of the modern shipping industry, of the wider application of the concept of beneficiary owner- ship in the context of the growing complexities of world finance, and of the difficulties of its Asian affiliates, being sandwiched between the interests of the Federation and that of their respective nations. They felt that until conditions between the developed and developing countries could be brought more in line, their first duties should be done to their own countries and to the Region. For this reason, the following proposals were made -
13.
h
(a) that the ITF should impose freeze on all the ITF rates
for FOC vessels - (Philippines);
(b) that the ITF should adopt the present ITF Far East rate
as the world-wide rate for seafarers on FOC vessels plus 20% payments as fixed monthly overtime compensation - (Taiwan);
(c) that the ITF should set up an Asian Regional Organisation
to afford a venue and forum for its Asian affiliates to discuss and resolve their own probleris (Hong Kong).
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As regards manpower planning and security of employment of seamen, it was generally agreed that despite the employment goals of respective developing countries, the number of seafarers should not be
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