Study on social aspects within the maritime transport sector Final report EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) Unit: D2 Maritime Safety Contact: Justyna Bartnicka E-mail: [email protected] European Commission B-1049 Brussels EUROPEAN COMMISSION Study on social aspects within the maritime transport sector Final report Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, D2 Maritime Safety Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you). LEGAL NOTICE This document has been prepared for the European Commission however it reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://www.europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020 ISBN : 978-92-76-20271-4 Doi : 10.2832/49520 © European Union, 2020 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Study on social aspects within the maritime transport sector TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................. 6 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................... 11 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 27 2. STUDY SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................... 29 3. OVERVIEW OF THE EU MARITIME TRANSPORT SECTOR ................................ 34 4. ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE SECTOR AND EDUCATION ................................... 40 5. EFFECTS OF DIGITALISATION AND AUTOMATION ........................................ 46 6. EXISTENCE OF SOCIAL DUMPING AND UNFAIR COMPETITION ....................... 55 7. CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES ......................................................... 64 8. 2011 TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................... 71 9. EU SECTORAL SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN MARITIME TRANSPORT ......................... 77 10. STUDY CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................. 86 11. STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................... 94 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Study approach and methodology ..........................................................31 Table 2: Key EU legislation applying to seafarers ..................................................37 Table 3: Interviewees references to MET, knowledge and skills for upcoming technologies ....................................................................................................51 Table 4: Summary of outputs of the SSDC-MT (2011-2019) ..................................79 Table 5: Frequency of topics occurring during SSDC-MT meetings (2011 – 2019) .....83 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Regional seafarer comparison ...............................................................34 Figure 2: Numbers of seafarers and overall employment .......................................35 Figure 3: Ships' technological path .....................................................................48 Figure 4: Extent of implementation of Task Force recommendations .......................73 Figure 5: Intervention logic of the SSDC-MT ........................................................78 LIST OF BOXES Box 1: Perceptions about the present and future of ship operators and seafarers .....47 Box 2: Snapshot of results of the analysis of port inspection data ...........................67 Box 3: Snapshot of flag State authorities’ survey responses ...................................69 Box 4: Research questions for the 2011 Task Force recommendations ....................71 Box 5: Task Force’s recommendations grouped in thematic areas ...........................72 5 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AI Artificial Intelligence AL Autonomy levels BALPA British Air Line Pilots’ Association BIMCO Baltic and International Maritime Council CBA Collective Bargaining Agreement CEACR Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions & Recommendations DG EMPL Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion DG DEVCO Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development DG MOVE Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport EC European Commission ECDIS Electronic Chart Display and Information System ECSA European Community Shipowners’ Associations EEA European Economic Area EMSA European Maritime Safety Agency ETF European Transport Workers’ Federation EU European Union EUDEL European Union Delegation to the Council of Europe HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration ICS International Chamber of Shipping ILO International Labour Organisation IMCO Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation IMO International Maritime Organisation ITF International Transport Workers' Federation KVNR Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners LNG Liquefied Natural Gas LGBTQ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer MAPMAR Mapping of Maritime Professionals MASS Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships MET Maritime Education and Training METI Maritime Education and Training Institutions ML Machine Learning MLC Maritime Labour Convention MoU Memorandum of Understanding MS Member State OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 6 Study on social aspects within the maritime transport sector PSCO Port State Control Officer PSC Port State Control RO Recognised Organisation RPS Recruitment and Placement Service SEA Seafarer’s Employment Agreement SMarT Support for Maritime Training SSDC-MT Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee in Maritime Transport STC Special Tripartite Committee STCW Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers TF Task Force TFEU Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union UNCLOS The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development VDG Vasco da Gama WMU World Maritime University ABSTRACT This report examines social aspects within the maritime transport sector taking as a starting point the proposals made by the ad hoc Task Force on Maritime Employment and Competitiveness in 2011. 7 The analysis focuses on issues of EU relevance and covers the 2011 – 2018 period. The methodology deployed followed a mixed method approach. The study collected and analysed as much existing information and data as possible and complemented this with primary data collection. Country case studies were conducted looking at issues of education, attractiveness of the sector, gender equality in particular Member States. Thematic case studies were used to focus on issues like access to justice in maritime transport in the European Union. The study has also benefited from a large- scale consultation programme to gather views, and experiences directly from key stakeholders in the EU institutions and within the sector or with sectoral expertise. These methods were used to research the following areas in line with the terms of reference: (1) socioeconomic and technological developments in the maritime transport sector; (2) potential effects of digitalisation and automation; (3) social dumping and unfair competition; (4) control and compliance issues under the EU Directives that enforce the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; (5) follow-up of the recommendations of the 2011 Task Force; and (6) the functioning of the EU sectoral social dialogue on maritime transport. The findings reveal a series of challenges facing the sector as follows: shifting economic, technological and cultural dynamics that affect the attractiveness of the seafaring profession; a socio-legal framework that leads to the non-application of the ‘equal pay for equal work’ principle on board; difficulties in providing a comprehensive social security protection to seafarers and avoiding double taxation; different levels of control and enforcement of the provisions of the MLC in different countries, 2006; a need to enhance seafarers’ access to justice and awareness of their rights, obligations and complaint handling procedures; a commitment of social partners to the social dialogue process, but divergent views of what can be achieved, as well as divergences in terms of influences and resources. To help foster change, the study made recommendations relating to education, employment, gender and diversity matters, seafarers’ access to justice, collective bargaining, social security, compliance and enforcement of existing legislation, and policy mechanisms, among others. As such, while examining policy achievements, gaps and shortcomings, it has identified initiatives which may enhance decent working and living conditions on board ships and increase the attractiveness of the seafarer profession. 8 Study on social aspects within the maritime transport sector RÉSUMÉ Ce rapport examine les aspects sociaux du secteur du transport maritime, prenant comme point de départ les propositions faites par le groupe de travail ad hoc sur l'emploi et la compétitivité dans le secteur en 2011. L'analyse se concentre sur des questions de pertinence de l’action de l'UE en la matière et couvre la période de 2011 à 2018. La