Stop stereotyping

Star Maritime 23 April 2007

Shipping companies should start showing their support to local seafarers and stop stereotyping them, says Marine Department director-general Captain Ahmad Othman.
 
“Not all seafarers are bad. Malaysia has produced many top-notch seafarers. It is very unfair for some shipping companies to boycott local seafarers just because of a few bad apples,” he said.
 
On local seamen who lack training, Capt Ahmad said: “Shipping companies can't expect to get 'ready-made' seamen all the time. They should do their part by giving these seamen the training they need.
 
“The reason some shipping companies are reluctant to spend money training the local seamen is because they know that they will not be able to hold on to them forever.
 
“What do they expect when they are paying peanuts compared to foreign shipping companies!” he said.
 
He also said shipping companies prefer to employ foreigners because it is cheaper.
 
The National Union of Seafarers of Peninsular Malaysia organising secretary Mohd Rafiq Ramoo Abdullah agreed with Capt Ahmad's statement that Malaysian crew are of good quality.
 
“In the past three months, the Union was able to secure jobs for 20 of our seamen on board Singapore ships. And the response we got from the manning agents in Singapore has been very encouraging. They have asked me to provide them with more recruits as they find them competent,” he said.
 
Rafiq said some shipping companies find fault with the local seamen so that they have an excuse to take in foreign crew.
 
“They prefer foreign crew because it is more cost effective.
 
“The salary range for a captain from Malaysia would be between RM5,000 and RM6,000 whereas if they take a Burmese for the same post, they would only have to pay him around RM3,000,” he explained.
 
“Secondly, foreign ratings are paid low salaries and expected to work around the clock but are not paid overtime. They are normally paid a fixed salary. They are also not paid leave-pay for working on their days off.
 
“There have even been cases when foreigners have even been killed while performing duties beyond their job scope.
 
“The foreigners will not fight for their rights as they fear being sent back to their country or being black-listed.
 
“Local crew on the other hand will not allow themselves to be bullied. They fight back. So their employers call them trouble-makers,” he said.
 
He also said that by employing foreigners, the companies do not have to make an Employees Provident Fund contribution which they can't run away from if they employ a local.
 
Rafiq also acknowledged that there are a few good local shipping companies who give priority to local crew.
 
“No one is perfect. There will be problems here and there. It is up to the company to come up with solutions. Shifting the blame on others is not going to solve anything,” he said.
 
Malaysian seafarers who were interviewed by Star Maritime felt that they have been treated unfairly by shipping companies.
 
“We are very frustrated with local shipping companies who are only interested in reaping a high profit. The salary they offer us does not fulfil the requirements under the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and yet they call us demanding,” said Mohamad Keney Mohd Suhail, 27.
 
The Klang born deck crew who has been serving Malaysian vessels for seven years said under ITF, a crew is entitled to a minimum salary of US$1,000 per month but in Malaysia, even the highest paying company only offers up to RM2,000.
 
“Shipping companies must understand that the cost of living is high and we too need to survive. Besides, I do not see why they can't pay us when we have paper qualifications. They can't say that we are inexperienced. Everyone has to start somewhere,” he said.
 
“Malaysian seamen are the best workers in terms of quality and skills. The only benefit that foreigners have is that they are willing to be paid less. It is not that they are more hard-working or better qualified than us.”
 
Keney who was just accepted to work in Singapore said if shipping companies keep hiring foreigners, soon there will be no more seafarers in Malaysia as they will all turn to foreign companies.
 
He also claimed that many local companies refuse to employ local seafarers who are 40 years of age.
 
“But if it is a foreigner, they would accept them with open arms. This is unfair. No other country practices this except us.
 
“The Government should do something to help us and look into our welfare. They should also offer scholarships to deserving seafarers,” he said.
 
Rohaizam Shah, 39, a Class C oiler from Johor said shipping companies should start supporting the local crewmen as they all come with the necessary qualifications.
 
“Isn't qualifications enough? We spent thousands of Ringgit to get these qualifications so don't we deserve to be paid accordingly?” he asked.
 
He also admitted that there are Malaysian crew who are drug addicts and got involved in brawls but foreign crew are no better.
 
“There are many foreign crew who behave badly as well but we do not condemn them openly because it may affect both our country's diplomatic relations,” he said.  

BACK TO NEWS PAGE