Skip to main content

ITF kicks off targeted operation against Blumenthal

12 Apr 2019
Press Release
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has launched a targeted operation against German shipping company Johann M. K. Blumenthal over the company’s continued refusal to recognise seafarers’ welfare and rights.

The targeted operation will see the ITF Inspectorate – a network of 147 inspectors and contacts based in ports all over the world – inspecting and auditing the Blumenthal fleet in ports around the world.

“ITF inspectors will be inspecting Blumenthal vessels across the globe to ensure that their crews are paid properly, adequately fed and that all of their rights are being upheld,” said ITF inspector and leader of the operation, Sven Hemme.

“Following the detention of the Anna-Elisabeth by Australian authorities and other breaches on vessels in European ports, safeguarding the rights of seafarers working on Blumenthal ships is now the ITF Inspectorate’s number one priority,” said Hemme.

In addition to announcing the targeted operation today, the ITF also invited Blumenthal’s president Matthias-K Reith to work cooperatively with the global union federation to raise standards for workers across its Flag of Convenience (FoC) fleet.

“The ITF is challenging one of Germany’s oldest shipping companies to modernise its business practices in line with what is expected of multinational companies in 2019,” said Hemme.

“The sustainability and ethical impact of a company as well as managing risk and living up to corporate responsibility principles matters in today’s world. Responsible businesses are assessing their supply chains and aligning to initiatives like the UN Global Compact to ensure that, at a minimum, their operations meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

“We are increasingly seeing responsible charterers play a critical and proactive role in this space, selecting ITF certified ships when deciding on vessels to charter. The reality is that the unregulated FoC system, a system that allows for exploitation and labour abuse of international seafarers, is a risk that responsible charterers aren’t willing to take.

“We’re calling on Blumenthal to be part of the change to help improve the worlds maritime industry, and to bring all their FoC vessels under ITF Agreements and agree to a transparent compliance process that ensures seafarers’ rights, freedoms and working conditions are protected,” concluded Hemme.

Contact
Luke Menzies, ITF maritime communications manager, menzies_luke@itf.org.uk

Post new comment

Restricted HTML

  • Allowed HTML tags: <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

Comment

Ponipate.Nairaboitoga
4 years 5 months ago

Solidarity for seafarers and Thanks ITF for a Great Job.🇦🇨🇦🇩🇦🇪🇦🇫🇦🇬🇦🇮🇦🇱🇦🇺🇦🇹🇦🇸🇦🇷🇦🇶🇦🇴🇦🇲🇦🇼🇦🇽🇦🇿🇧🇦🇧🇧🇧🇩🇧🇪🇧🇲🇧🇯🇧🇮🇧🇭🇧🇬🇧🇫

LU
3 months ago

Have you ever considered about including a little bit
more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and all.

Nevertheless imagine if you added some great pictures or videos to give your posts
more, "pop"! Your content is excellent but with pics and
clips, this site could certainly be one of the best in its field.
Excellent blog!https://www.riarudoll.com/

My blog :: 熟女 アダルト

KQ
3 months ago

I couldn't resist commenting. Perfectly written!

my web page; ダッチワイフ販売

ZS
1 month 1 week ago

Wow, wonderful weblog structure! How lengthy have you ever
been running a blog movie websites for free online?
you made running a blog glance easy. The total glance of your website is
fantastic, as neatly as the content material!

YT
1 week 5 days ago

I have frequently thought about precisely how remarkable
it can be to be aware of our individual disadvantages, and
moreover our various talents. When you're engaging in the activities you might be
outstanding at, you begin feeling much more connected with yourself.
When you are working on a situation that happens to be troublesome, sometimes you
like it as it is an obstacle. I've observed
that you will find several individuals who are in a position to
discover their personal abilities, even while
you'll find certain people whose life predicaments make that impossible.
Plenty of people moreover don’t recognize that kids Pediatric Massage therapy has helped kids whose families can be suffering
problems. Eradicating tension in young kids triggers minimised
emotional tension for the mothers and fathers, who will in that case start living their personal
lives in an increasingly tranquil way, potentially taking improved
care of their bodies too.

Upon reflection, I thought your post was relevant
and timely. Thank you very much for creating this specific trove of particulars; if more authors produce savvy and time-worthy
prose, I contemplate we'd all fully grasp existence much better.
In my experience, I consider it at truth that we might focus more on eating well and
always keeping fit and alive and free from staying perpetually
in front of the computer or I-Phone screen. Go outdoors.
And, keep in mind, that usually means not continuing to keep your
mind stuck in the phone the whole while also, and live life with appreciation for Nature.
That keeps people feeling grounded. Thinking
about deep philosophical topics is furthermore an experience of a different order that can aid
us know ourselves.

Andy
4 years 5 months ago

I am currently on the Blumenthal ship. Problems are still and will remain, unless it mentions crewing. The main problems are the prolongation of contracts and their length.
With food is also bad but you can blame capital and cooks for it.
The payouts are also delayed and are scheduled for the 15th of the following month.
Regards ITF and all seafarers.