Do you know that there are many seafarers on board today who are isolated, troubled, suffered from daily hardship, and have no choice but to give up or quit? 

For example;

・Rules,rules ! I’m mentally confused with many rules. I can’t even go ashore. Why did I become a seafarer on board ocean-going vessel?

・Coastal ships navigate at night and carry out cargo handling during the day. Every day I feel depressed by the yelling of my boss. No one to talk to.

・Fishing companies continue loss　making operations due to competition with foreign vessels, low fish prices and high fuel costs. Do I have no choice but to quit my job?

・Even though I was injured at work, company didn’t allow to apply for Workers’   Compensation Insurance and told me to quit.

 As for Japan surrounding by the sea, the importance of seafarers hasn’t  changed past and now. Nevertheless,many fishing companies go out of business and fishing vessels decrease

sharply. Poor working environment and long working hours in the coastal shipping have continued. Ocean-going vessels have been rapidly increased without Japanese seafarers and other country seafarers have been put in place “without basic rights”.

As a result, it’s the reality that many youngsters who had wished to be seafarer were disappointed with the fact and have left from sea. It is obvious that there is no future in the industries where youngsters can’t have dream for the job.

We have serious concerns about such situation and decided to establish “Seafarers’ Human Rights Now ! ”.  We will ensure a fundamental workers’ rights for decent life and desirable workplace for all seafarers in the world, including trainees and cadets.

Today it is desirable to stand by seafarers and accept consultations with free of charge for sharing the problems/concerns such as no proper payment, fired from company, having a marine accident, application for Workers’ Compensation Insurance, correcting breach of safety regulation/labour law,

appeal to the Maritime Authority or court case, less opportunities for marriage, suffering from power/sexual harassment, want to quit job but can’t.

 Also, we will appeal to society widely about the situation above and act to call for improving environment of seafarers.

 So far, we had involved in the activities of seafarers’ union and engaged in the seafarer related jobs for a long time. Now in a free position, we do hope to make use of our experience as a group of volunteers who protect the seafarers’ human rights. Regardless of your affiliation with a labor union or not, we will make our best efforts to advise you and your loved ones including the parties concerned. Please feel free to contact us by post, phone, fax, e-mail, etc.

 We would like to call you to join and support us for protecting seafarers’ human rights.

 1^st Apr. 2023

Seafarers’ Human Rights Now！(Japan)