In the new Circular, the Ministry of Transport requires foreign seafarers to have at least 36 months at sea to work on Vietnamese ships.
The Ministry of Transport has just issued Circular No. 43 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular 17/2017 stipulating conditions for foreign seafarers to work on Vietnamese ships.
In this Circular, the Ministry of Transport adds more specific professional conditions. Accordingly, foreign seafarers who want to work on board Vietnamese ships, in addition to having a certificate issued by a Vietnamese competent authority or a competent authority of a country or territory, have signed an agreement with Vietnam. Regarding the recognition of professional certificates, they must meet the additional requirement that they have a minimum seagoing time of 36 months. “Time at sea is the time when a seafarer works, apprentices, holds a title or apprentice on a ship,” the Circular clearly states. The Ministry of Transport also requires foreign seafarers when working on Vietnamese ships, in addition to documents, papers and professional certificates as prescribed by Vietnamese law and relevant international conventions, to comply with Have a crew member’s labor contract, work permit or written confirmation of not being eligible for a work permit to serve the inspection of the authorities when necessary.
In addition, in the revised Circular, the Ministry of Transport has adjusted the legal content related to professional certificates and work permits.
In particular, the certificate of professional competence will not only be issued by the Vietnam Maritime Administration, but the Maritime Sub-department or the Port Authority authorized by the Vietnam Maritime Administration can also issue this type of document to foreign seafarers who have Professional certificates issued by competent authorities.
Regarding general conditions, in case they are not eligible for a work permit, seafarers must apply for a written certification issued by the Employment Department under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Departments of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. . It is known that Circular No. 43 will take effect from August 1, 2020.
Source: Traffic Newspaper
