Brussels, 20/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - The task force on maritime employment and competitiveness set up by Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas delivered its report on Wednesday 20 July containing recommendations for possible future measures for the shipping industry. The report feeds into the Commission's work on the social agenda for maritime transport, with several initiatives planned from this summer onwards.
The task force examined the legal framework and analysed the factors turning EU seafarers away from the profession as well as the incentives for employers to recruit EU seafarers. The lack of available reliable data on seafarers has been an obstacle it had to face. However, the trends on the increase in the recruitment of non EU seafarers for international voyages, especially at the expense of EU ratings, clearly emerged, the Commission says. Despite recent improvements in some member states, European officer recruitment and retention remains problematic.
In its report, the task force provides recommendations on issues such as the regulatory framework, ranging from recruitment, training, career paths, working and living conditions on board including access to new technologies, legal and administrative treatment of seafarers, the piracy threat, state aid and employment. (G.B./transl.rt)