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Center for Seafarers' Rights catches recruiting firm exploiting workers for third time
2002-148-4
6/12/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
The Center for Seafarers Rights (CSR) of the Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey is protesting the illegal recruiting practices of AL-Najat Marine Shipping LLC. Reliable sources reported to CSR that the United Arab Emirates company is offering to recruit 30,000 Moroccan nationals for positions aboard cruise ships by contacting various employment agencies in Morocco.
'The church must raise a loud voice when these types of abuses become known. The exploitation of poor people is indefensible. The international community must put pressure on this firm to stop operating in a clearly illegal manner,' said Douglas B. Stevenson, director of the Center for Seafarers' Rights. 'According to our sources, AL-Najat has attempted this recruitment without notifying the appropriate Moroccan governmental authorities.'
Last summer in Kenya, AL-Najat claimed to have 50,000 jobs available to Kenyan citizens for work aboard cruise vessels owned by U.K., Spanish, Portuguese, and Greek companies. The claim was later discredited. Similar reliable sources reported the fraud to CSR that started an international call to end the illegal practices.
The Kenyan government confirmed that cruise ship recruitment schemes bilked more than $500,000 from at least 10,000 Kenyan job seekers under the guise of requiring a medical examination fee. Reports of similar activities occurred in India and Pakistan as well. In each case, fees were collected but the agency did not provide any jobs.
In order to be eligible to work on a cruise vessel, candidates must posses a merchant mariners document issued by the flag authority of the vessel on which the applicant will work. International standards also require some basic training and prohibit the charging of fees for finding employment for seafarers.
'I'm very concerned about AL-Najat's ability to operate with impunity in places where maritime recruiting conventions are not readily available to the general population,' said Stevenson. 'Their ability to victimize the poor is reprehensible.'
Established in 1834, SCI is an ecumenical agency affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Stevenson is a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Short Hills, New Jersey, and a member of the Advisory Council to the Anglican Observer to United Nations. Before joining the Seamen's Church Institute in 1990, he served 20 years as a U.S. Coast Guard officer, retiring as a commander.
To learn more about SCI, visit www.seamenschurch.org .
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