07/12/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 7 December, the Employment and Social Affairs Council adopted the agreement reached between the social partners on the revision of directive 2009/13/EC regarding implementation of the agreements concluded by the European Community of Shipowners Association (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF). The updating of the text obliges shipowners to provide financial security up to two months as a means of providing protection to seafarers, particularly in cases of abandonment in a foreign port or when they have not sufficiently maintained their vessels. The compensation and payment of debts to avoid delayed payments to seafarers and their families in cases of abandonment, death or long-term incapacity, have also been introduced. The Commission made this proposal last July (see EUROPE 11838). (PH)