The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has found “an emerging pattern of labour rights violations” throughout facilities belonging to International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) — one of the world's fastest-growing stevedoring companies.
The report, launched today by the international transport unions federation’s President, Paddy Crumlin, shows that labour issues extend further than the disputes it is involved in concerning ICTSI’s terminals in Madagascar and Indonesia.
ITF has made claims that there are “severe labour violations” throughout the Philippine-based operator’s global network, which includes 29 container terminals.
It will now focus on ports in which ICTSI seeks to expand, including the multi-purpose terminal in Kribi, Cameroon, a new port in Guinea-Bissau, the Motuka Port in Port Moresby and the Port of Lae in Papua New Guinea.
In a statement made on the violations, Crumlin listed problems such as ICTSI paying poverty wages, not respecting workers’ right to freedom of association, providing poor safety standards that endanger workers’ lives, and illegally out-sourcing jobs to labour-hire companies.
Learn why more ports and terminals are thinking of implementing automated practices in the 'Automating Ports: Mitigating Union Friction' technical paper by Olaf Merk, Administrator: Ports and Shipping, ITF/OECD
Crumlin said: “ICTSI has grown ambitiously over the last decade, yet as this report shows, their growth has not been accompanied by sufficient managerial oversight and appropriate global governance to ensure productive industrial relations, compliance with local laws, and international labour conventions.”
In response to the report, ITF affiliates within ICTSI’s global terminals and shipping routes, are taking part in lawful actions worldwide in a renewed international push against injustice.
FBTPI dock workers start ITF's international push against injustice at ICTSI ports | Find out more: https://t.co/YV7JZFlRvn pic.twitter.com/TDueW1xW6L
— ITF Asia Pacific (@ITFAPAC) October 9, 2017
ICTSI’s is focusing its growth on privatising ports that are under government control, with a focus on emerging markets such as Africa.
ICTSI is currently short-listed for the Port of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, and is lobbying the Cameroonian government to join the consortium that will operate and manage the multi-purpose terminal in Kribi, Cameroon.
In September 2017, ICTSI signed an agreement to operate the Lae and Motuka ports in Papua New Guinea.
Crumlin added: “Today we have a clear message for ICTSI: end the disputes at the Port of Jakarta and the Port of Toamasina in Madagascar.
“Reverse the emerging pattern of labour rights violations throughout your network. And treat your workers with the dignity and respect that all workers deserve.
“The ITF, and our union affiliates, are committed to supporting port operators who provide good jobs and industrial relations practices in their ports.
“Together we are committed to ensuring that ICTSI does not extend its pattern of labour violations into new terminals.”
