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Panama Inspectorate manages the payment of wages to Turkish Seafarers

24 Novembro 2009

After several months of fighting in the Second Maritime Court of Panama, the ITF representative in Panama, Luis Fruto, confirmed the payment of the wages arrears to 17 Turkish seafarers who were repatriated in April and they had not received their salaries since November 2008.

In November 2008, the ship Mevlut Dov, Panama-flagged ship, suffered a mechanical breakdown in Puerto Cristobal when it was on route from Rio de Janeiro to the port of Peru "El Callao". Since this month, the boat was anchored. A newspaper of Panama reported the abandonment of the Turkish crew. Thanks to the action of the ITF inspector and the attorney Olmedo Arrocha, who conducted the legal report, it was established an agreement, which the ship would be sell and with the sale, the Turkish seafarers would be paid for the wages arrears. At the end of October 2009, the ship which had a load of about $ 9 million in copper concentrate was sold.

Since January 2009, the crew survived in precarious conditions, among trash and poor ventilation in the cabins. The ITF Inspector and ITF affiliated unions in Panama supported them providing food and their repatriation.

Last week, the release of approximately $160,000 dollars that was sent to Turkey to pay the wages arrears to the seafarers involved was confirmed.

Luis Fruto, ITF Inspector commented: "The new government of President Ricardo Martinelli and the current administration of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) have been concerned and wanted to collaborate in order that Panamanian-flagged ships respect the labour rights of the Seafarers, also, the AMP through the Port and Seafarers Direction have requested the free entry in Panama ports to the Seafarers Welfare Committee and to the ITF Inspector.

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