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24 February, 2006IMF calls for industry-wide clean up of health and safety problems in shipbreaking following the death of four workers in a fire on board a ship in an Alang shipbreaking yard.
INDIA: Police have recovered the charred remains of four workers from an Alang shipbreaking yard after it caught fire last week.
According to local press reports, the charred remains of the four labourers were recovered by police on February 21 from the engine room, four days after the fire raged through the ship. The fire occurred on board the ship 'China Sea Explorer' on February 17 at plot number V at Alang. The identities of the victims are not yet known.
In responding to the tragedy, IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi expressed deep sadness and condolences to the workers' families and called on the international community to act together and ensure that similar incidents are not repeated.
"This tragedy should never have happened. Employers have a duty to provide workers with safe working environments," said Malentacchi adding: "And society at large is at fault for not dealing with the inhumane and unsafe conditions found in many shipbreaking yards around the world."
"Preventing this type of tragedy from occurring again will require an industry-wide approach, not just focusing on this individual yard. The international community needs to work out a practical response that can be applied in all shipbreaking yards, including comprehensive international laws that cover the whole life of a ship," said Malentacchi.
"In extending condolences to the families of these workers I can only hope that this tragedy is the last and that the industry cleans up its act once and for all," he said.
According to local press reports, the charred remains of the four labourers were recovered by police on February 21 from the engine room, four days after the fire raged through the ship. The fire occurred on board the ship 'China Sea Explorer' on February 17 at plot number V at Alang. The identities of the victims are not yet known.
In responding to the tragedy, IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi expressed deep sadness and condolences to the workers' families and called on the international community to act together and ensure that similar incidents are not repeated.
"This tragedy should never have happened. Employers have a duty to provide workers with safe working environments," said Malentacchi adding: "And society at large is at fault for not dealing with the inhumane and unsafe conditions found in many shipbreaking yards around the world."
"Preventing this type of tragedy from occurring again will require an industry-wide approach, not just focusing on this individual yard. The international community needs to work out a practical response that can be applied in all shipbreaking yards, including comprehensive international laws that cover the whole life of a ship," said Malentacchi.
"In extending condolences to the families of these workers I can only hope that this tragedy is the last and that the industry cleans up its act once and for all," he said.