The Republic Day celebration in Kolkata on January 26th will honor both retired and currently working seafarers. After 76 years of our Constitution, seafarers across India are still waiting for their rightful benefits, particularly in terms of pension. There are strong demands from seafarers nationwide to adopt the ILO standards regarding retirement benefits. Seafarers are eager to raise their voices from all states to ensure their message reaches those in power who have been unresponsive.

Seminar concluded with some of the following conclusions after panel of discussion with industry experts

1. Create entry level curriculum for cadets and seafarers educating them about abandonment issues so that they are prepared

1. As part of their curriculum cadets and Seafarers must be trained on the realities of work onboard. It’s not all glamour but they need to be ready for structured professional work which has its own work pressures.

1. Reflect on SOPs of countries like Taiwan to ensure that abandonment issues are mandatorily resolved before vessels are allowed to fare at sea.

1. Publicize lessons from incidents industry-wide so that wisdom can be shared and we can all move forward together

The discussions among participants focused on the issue of abandonment of seafarers. The “FSUI SEA CALL APP” was launched by Dy.DG Shipping Capt. Daniel Joseph and will soon be available for seafarers and their families on both Android and iOS platforms.

The Forward Seamen's Union of India 

hosted a symposium on Abandonment & MentalHealth of serving seafarers on board the vessels along with the launch of the FSUI Sea Call app, in Mumbai on 4th January 2025.

Dignitaries in attendance included Bro. Steve Trowsdale, Coordinator of the ITF Inspectorate; Br. Asif Altaf from ITF Well-Being; Dy.DG Shipping Crew Capt. Dr. Daniel Joseph; Brother Shri Shiv Gopal Mishra, ITF Executive Board Member; Bro. Mahendra Gharat, ITF Executive Board Member; Capt.Mahendra Bashin, Director of Mediterranean Shipping Company Crewing branch of India; Capt. Ansul Rajvanshi, Director of Synergy Ship Management; Ms. Sonali Banerjee, Principal Surveyor IRS; Ms. Aishrwaya Pilankar, Vice President of IMF; Narendra Rao, General Secretary of Water Transport Workers Federation of India; Br. Sanjeev Mehra; and many representatives from the shipping industry.

Reporting of Inland Section in ITF Congress at Morroco by FSUI General Secretary 

FSUI Raise the issue of Cabotage in Congress of ITF supporting the Chile Seafarers Union who all are fighting against the removal of Cabotage by thier government. Indian Government has announced the removal of cabotage which is actually not existing and only 40 % of cargo movement at Indian Coast are moving through National Flags. FSUI Raised the concern about threat of seafarers job once foregin flag ships will fully allowed to operate in Indian coast. 

The ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) Congress, which brought together leaders from 156 countries, focused on key issues facing transport workers globally and outlined a strategic plan for the next five years. The congress highlighted several pressing challenges, including:

1. **Health and Safety**: Ensuring better health and safety standards for transport workers, especially in light of the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, was a major focus.

2. **Job Security**: Addressing the rising concern of job security in an era of automation and digitalization, with a plan to advocate for fair treatment and retraining opportunities for workers displaced by technological advancements.

3. **Wages and Working Conditions**: The need to improve wages and working conditions across the transport sector, advocating for fair pay, reasonable hours, and adequate rest periods for all workers.

4. **Union Rights**: Strengthening the rights of transport workers to organize and collectively bargain, ensuring that unions remain strong and effective in representing their members’ interests.

5. **Climate Change**: Developing strategies for the transport sector to contribute to global efforts against climate change, promoting sustainable practices and green jobs within the industry.

7. **Digitalization**: Emphasizing the importance of workers’ rights in the context of digital transformation, ensuring that new technologies benefit workers, rather than diminish their roles or exploit their labor.

8. **Global Solidarity**: Promoting international solidarity among transport workers, recognizing that many challenges are global in nature, and that collaborative efforts will be crucial in addressing them.

The congress concluded with a call for continued engagement and collaboration among unions, governments, and employers to implement the agreed-upon strategies and ensure that the voices of transport workers are heard and respected in the evolving landscape of the global transport sector. This course of action aims to empower workers and secure a more equitable and sustainable future in transport.

FSUI particiapted in ITF Congress 2024 held at Marakecch (Morroco) and delibrated the ongoing issues of seafarers in various sectors.

On 28th of August A delegation of FSUI leaders by Com. Narendra Rao vice president of FSUI and Com Nand Kumar (Vice President FSUI) met Minister of Shipping Port and waterways at Delhi and given Representation of Seafarers Pension scheme to be implemented for Officers, Seafarers and Trainees. As assured by Hon’ble Minister has discussed and assured to move ahed in direction with positively..

An event organised by FSUI at Mumbai to discuss on "Fair Practice of Recruitment " and Insurance Service to Family of Seafarers