30 November, 2011The Executive Committee of the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF), meeting in Brussels on November 23-24, sets down its position on the shipbuildning industry. In a declaration addressed to the European Union Commissioners the EMF calls for an integrated industrial policy for the sector, and for a critical industrial mass of shipbuilding activities in Europe.
EUROPE: In its "Rosyth Declaration for a new industrial policy strategy" the EMF demands that the EU and EU states support European shipbuilders. The move comes after more than 50,000 shipyard workers in Europe have lost their jobs and entire regions their industrial foundation since 2008.
The EU is urged to also systematically "explore new, additional areas of work and innovation as alternatives to the shipbuilding market characterised by over-capacity". In particular the EMF mentions marine engineering and the onshore and offshore wind industry as promising avenues for the shipbuilding industry, to develop the industrial structure in the shipbuilding and associated marine supply industry.
A new industrial strategy for shipbuilding should safeguard jobs and prevent industrial erosion - the disappearance of shipbuilding would mean the loss of an industrial pillar for entire regions and countries in Europe, for instance in Poland or Malta. The EU should also ensure that 'Green Growth' pays off, by encouraging ship owners to order new environmentally friendly and energy-efficient ships, and dismantle or retrofit outdated ships.
Ship financing should be safeguarded in Europe, and there should be fair global competitive conditions.
Finally the EMF calls for safe and sustainable conditions when old ships are scrapped. The demand for scrapping of old and hazardous ships has increased because of sluggish growth and overcapacities in the maritime transport sector. This scrapping often occurs under precarious condition for workers and the environment. The EMF will, in close cooperation with the IMF, monitor these activities and call for action wherever universal worker's rights or environmental legislation is disregarded.
The IMF has a long record of fighting for the rights of workers in shipbreaking. For more information, see the IMF website.
The EU is urged to also systematically "explore new, additional areas of work and innovation as alternatives to the shipbuilding market characterised by over-capacity". In particular the EMF mentions marine engineering and the onshore and offshore wind industry as promising avenues for the shipbuilding industry, to develop the industrial structure in the shipbuilding and associated marine supply industry.
A new industrial strategy for shipbuilding should safeguard jobs and prevent industrial erosion - the disappearance of shipbuilding would mean the loss of an industrial pillar for entire regions and countries in Europe, for instance in Poland or Malta. The EU should also ensure that 'Green Growth' pays off, by encouraging ship owners to order new environmentally friendly and energy-efficient ships, and dismantle or retrofit outdated ships.
Ship financing should be safeguarded in Europe, and there should be fair global competitive conditions.
Finally the EMF calls for safe and sustainable conditions when old ships are scrapped. The demand for scrapping of old and hazardous ships has increased because of sluggish growth and overcapacities in the maritime transport sector. This scrapping often occurs under precarious condition for workers and the environment. The EMF will, in close cooperation with the IMF, monitor these activities and call for action wherever universal worker's rights or environmental legislation is disregarded.
The IMF has a long record of fighting for the rights of workers in shipbreaking. For more information, see the IMF website.