'I think I will commit suicide': Cargo ship workers have been trapped at sea for months because of C

As countries closed their borders during the pandemic, thousands of workers — who transport 90% of the world's goods — were forced to work or remain on board long beyond their contracts, which usually run for four to six months.

Even as many countries reopen, shipping firms are struggling to arrange for new crew, which means everybody has to stay on board.

The situation means some of the industry is breaching the international Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), according to the ITF. The agreement says that seafarers cannot be made to work without shore leave for longer than eleven months.

In June more than a dozen countries recognized seafarers as essential workers, which was meant to ease the bureaucratic hurdles to getting them home, or at least on shore. But in a statement on July 16, the ITF said many governments were still not doing "nearly enough."

Workers were reluctant to speak to Business Insider even anonymously for fear of reprisal from their employers.



https://www.businessinsider.com/cargo-ship-workers-trapped-sea-predict-anarchy-not-sent-home-2020-7