Govt mulls decree to protect ship crews

Cabinet will today consider a plan to issue a royal decree on maritime labour, which promises legal protection and good welfare to people working on big ships.

"The new law will be applied to ships of 500 gross tonnage up," Deputy Transport Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong said yesterday. Content of the law would be in line with the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention.

Prasert said his ministry hoped the legal move would take effect by May. Failure to comply with the convention would make it tough or impossible for Thai ships to moor at state-operated ports in up to 36 countries.

The convention requires that maritime workers enjoy good living conditions, sanitary systems and access to recreation. "It also requires that maritime workers have at least 10 hours of rest per day, and receive full payment of wages on a regular basis," he said.