Seafarers entitled for compensation: Nisha
The Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF) has paid $112,500 compensation to seafarers so far.
This included one death case and four injury cases.
This was confirmed by ACCF’s case manager, Fazlin Nisha.
“This situation will not arise as ACCF is responsible for paying compensation for all employment accidents in Fiji since 01st January 2019,” Ms Nisha said.
She highlighted all seafarers who are workers are entitled to apply for compensation for any serious injury suffered by them which arose out of and in the course of employment.
She also said there were times when the incident giving rise to an injury was not recorded in the ship’s log book.
“To avoid compensation issues seafarers and or their co-workers should ensure that with every incident giving rise to an injury on board a ship is recorded,” she said.
She said most seafarers were aware of
their rights and ACCF continued to create awareness in this regard.
“Seafarers must ensure they sign an employment contract with a shipping company and they should check that the shipping company is registered in Fiji, or the managing owner or a manager resides in Fiji or has their principal place of business in Fiji,” she said.
“Most of the world’s food, fuel, raw materials and finished goods are delivered by sea. Therefore, the role of seafarers in Fiji is very important.”
Given the importance of the role of seafarers, it is necessary that all stakeholders should work to ensure the safety of seafarers.
Some
safety measures for seafarers include:
■Provisio■ of proper personal protective equipment
■E■suri■g any load on the ship is properly secured
■Ships are properly anchored
■Proper training and supervision