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

Mr. Vo Hong Khanh, Director of Tan Dai Duong Shipping Investment Joint Stock Company, said that every time recruiting officers and crewmen, it is very difficult. The process of searching for seafarers is mainly through mass job search sites, social networking sites of shipping companies or through friends’ referrals.

Limited sources of information mean limited employment opportunities. “This not only causes the maritime industry in general and the seafaring profession in particular to be “lost” due to the decreasing number of students, but also has a great impact on those who are currently seafarers. There are people who have been with the profession for a dozen years and have to quit because their current salary is low, and they themselves cannot update information to switch to a better business, “said Khanh. “The funding for the construction of the website “Seafarers and jobs” (http://thuyenvienvavieclam.vinamarine.gov.vn) was called for by the Vietnam Maritime Administration from social investment.

However, shipping companies / ship owners or crew members do not have to pay any costs for job posting or job search. The Vietnam Maritime Administration will create maximum conditions for businesses, especially crew members, to have a reputable, safe, modern and timely job information channel,” said Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration Nguyen Xuan Sang. know. According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, in recent years, due to the prolonged recession of the world shipping industry, most ship owners have difficulty recruiting crew members to work on ships. Mr. Vu Khang Cuong, Head of Registration of Ships and Crewmembers (Vietnam Maritime Administration) said that according to statistics, the total number of certificates of professional competence (GCNKNCM) still valid for crew members and officers. about 40,000 pieces.

With the number of ships flying Vietnam’s flag about 1,500, the number of officers and crew members can still meet the demand. “But in reality, it is increasingly difficult for ship owners to recruit crew members. Many ship owners have to use foreign crew members, including low-ranking titles such as AB, OS to maintain the operation of the fleet. That shows, many seafarers with the certificate of competency are no longer in the profession,” said Mr. Cuong.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Sang, Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, said that Vietnam’s seafarers market is currently in a state of both surplus and shortage. “Many maritime students after graduation because of a lack of job information channels or encountering unscrupulous businesses with low wages, have quit their jobs and worked in opposite industries and occupations to have a better income. Meanwhile, many ship owners at the present time have not been able to recruit a crew member for a whole month at the moment, “said Mr. Sang.

For the first time opening the information page “Seafarers and jobs” Faced with that situation, at the end of November 2018, the Vietnam Maritime Administration built and piloted the information page “Seafarers and jobs” in order to bring a new channel to customers. official information, promoting the recruitment and job search of ship owners and crew members. The news page “Seafarers and jobs” is a specialized page on the main website of the Vietnam Maritime Administration. The job sector here is set up in two distinct sections: For employers and for seafarers.

When accessing the website, along with accessing and capturing recruitment information for the positions that the ship owner/employer is in need of, all seafarers can create their own electronic resume. with full information such as: Health status, job position (Captain, Chief Engineer, First Officer, Sailor – Mechanic…), work experience, sailing history, desired salary. The crew’s profile will be saved, publicized on the page and used as a basis for proposals when a ship owner wants to recruit the corresponding position. Similarly, ship owners/shipping companies when accessing the “Seafarers and jobs” page, in addition to being able to post job vacancies, they will also be provided with information about positions currently available for seafarers to apply for. Or you can access the crew profile (available) to find your own crew members who meet the job requirements.

According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Sang, the information channel “Seafarers and jobs” will help increase the connection between crew members, ship owners and management agencies. In particular, the Vietnam Maritime Administration will provide ship owners with information about crew members. Ship owners/shipping enterprises can find and arrange for seafarers a stable job with a worthy income. “When recruitment is operated and managed in a unified and smooth manner, seafarers will have optimal choices and a prestigious working environment. The seafarers market will have a basis to attract human resources and become vibrant again,” said Mr. Sang.

Vu Khang Cuong said that in the coming time, the Vietnam Maritime Administration will send documents to shipping companies and ship owners with information about the channel “Seafarers and jobs” for businesses to disseminate to crew members and participate. Update recruitment information on the system when needed. “However, currently in Vietnam, there are many job sites for seafarers, but many seafarers have encountered difficulties

Had to hire foreign crew at high price

Statistics from the Vietnam Maritime Administration show that by the end of 2019, the number of ships flying the Vietnamese flag was about 1,500. With more than 41,000 seafarers holding Certificates of Competency (GCCNCM) working on board ships, in theory, the number of officers and crew members still meets the needs of the domestic fleet (average 15 people). /ship) and the needs of foreign-flagged ships.

However, Mr. Vu Khang Cuong, Head of the Ship and Crew Registration Department (Vietnam Maritime Administration) said that it is increasingly difficult for ship owners to recruit crew members, especially those with high skills. Some ship owners have to use foreign crew members, including low-ranking titles such as OS (internship), AB (experienced) to maintain the operation of the fleet.

According to Mr. Nguyen Que Duong, Head of Crew and Ship Management Department (VN Maritime Corporation – Vinalines), Vietnam’s crew is currently in serious shortage. “If decades ago, shipping companies like Vosco, Vinaship… were the “dreamland” of many young people wishing to change their lives, now, Vinalines’ crew members are mainly old people. Even recently, a number of recruitment agencies in the positions of mechanics and service crew could not find candidates, “said Mr. Duong. .

A representative of Tan Dai Duong Shipping Investment Joint Stock Company said that currently, the market for “hired” seafarers for foreign ships is quite active. Some European ships are paying quite attractive salaries with the title of 2nd Deputy is 2,200 USD/month, 3rd Deputy is 2,000 USD/month. “For AB-level sailors, most ship owners are paying from 800-900 USD/person/month. Some Vietnamese ship owners also raised the salary for AB sailors from 10-12 million/month to 12-14 million. /month. However, Vietnam’s AB-level sailors are very lacking,” he said.

According to Mr. Vu Khang Cuong, crew members are “indifferent” to the current profession due to many reasons. In which, workers, especially young people, have many job options with better income than seafaring – a profession that is often away from home and has to cope with waves and winds.

“The negative feedback about the status of salary debt, “running out” of wages along with the fragmented and unprofessional management methods of some ship owners also makes workers depressed and dissatisfied. Currently, the State’s policy has almost no special incentives to motivate workers,” said Mr. Cuong.

Crew members will enjoy special benefits in terms of salary and bonus

Mr. Vu Khang Cuong said that recently, the President signed an Order to promulgate the Labor Code (amended) passed by the XIV National Assembly at its 8th Session. This is the first Code regulating employees. Working in the maritime sector is classified in the group of special occupations, and is entitled to a number of appropriate regimes in terms of training, labor contract, salary, and working hours. “This is an important premise for functional levels and businesses to research and propose appropriate policies to the Government to “revive” maritime human resources in general and seafarers in particular,” said Mr. Cuong.

According to Mr. Cuong, in the coming time, the Vietnam Maritime Administration will study and consult with authorities on the regulation of the minimum wage on the basis of reference to the minimum salary of seafarers of the ITF (International Transport Worker’s Federation). ). “However, the regulation of the minimum wage may greatly affect the operation of enterprises. Therefore, this issue will be carefully considered before proposing to the competent authorities,” Mr. Cuong said. good.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Que Duong said that if the maritime sector is classified as a specific industry, the relevant regimes also need to be considered and adjusted in the direction of priority. Typically, social insurance (social insurance) and medical insurance (health insurance) of seafarers. According to regulations, a seafarer’s time at sea in a year is only from 8-10 months, 2-4 months on ashore without salary, meaning no social insurance contributions. Due to the almost non-existent continuity in insurance contributions, very few seafarers are eligible for the insurance period to receive pensions (except for crew members on the payroll of large companies).

Compulsory health insurance is also costly for seafarers when most of the year, seafarers work at sea and do not use medical services onshore. The seafarers who reserve ashore are not supported by health insurance because they do not have a salary. “Functional levels should soon have a policy of taking 10 months of social insurance payment (with income) of seafarers equally divided among 12 months of the year and giving priority to seafarers who do not have to buy compulsory health insurance to avoid additional costs, encourage Seafarers are attached to the profession,” suggested Mr. Duong.

Source: Traffic Newspaper