Responsible companies have appropriate processes in place to review decisions to operate, source, or continue existing business activities in conflict zones, post-conflict or otherwise high-risk countries.
These circumstances increase the risk of gross human rights abuses, so companies must carry out heightened due diligence, to identify, prevent and mitigate these increased risks. Companies must also avoid contributing to breaches of international humanitarian law (e.g., complicity in war crimes) and exacerbating conflict.
Companies may be less aware of the consequences of geographical insecurity on seafarers.
For example:
- Companies may decide not to operate or to responsibly withdraw from a conflict-affected area to avoid contributing to conflict or human rights impacts. However, that same company may have rented space on a ship that stops at ports in this area along its route, inadvertently affecting the seafarers’ rights to shore leave, or their safety when disembarking.
- Conflict in seafarers’ home states may impact the dynamics on board between crew members from different key labour providing countries (e.g., Ukraine and Russia provide 14.5 percent of the global seafaring labour force).
- Certain international waters are high-risk areas for piracy and require armed security personnel onboard.
The ITF maintains a list of prevailing warlike and high-risk areas negotiated through the International Bargaining Forum (currently including the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Guinea, and the Sea of Azov), which brings together the ITF, representing its affiliated maritime unions, and maritime employers. On ships with ITF Agreements, seafarers are entitled to be informed at the time of assignment if the ship is bound for or may enter these areas, and they have the right to refuse sailing without detriment (such as loss of employment or blacklisting) and to be repatriated at no cost to the seafarer. This reflects the fundamental right in ILO Convention 155 on occupational safety and health for a worker to remove themselves from a situation of imminent and serious danger.
ITF Agreements also ensure additional employment protections, bonus payments, and compensation in case of disability, death or capture through piracy or hijacking, depending on the region.