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Mr A M Menezes
22/1/1995
Dear Mr Hassen Ebrahim Executive
Director of the Constitutional Assembly;
I wish to air my views as
follows :
We coloured officers Deck & Engineering in the fishing and mining
(marine) industries with certificates of competency are being
extorted both
on the wage scale and unfair labour practice of dismissal. What we need in the
Constitution coming from an Engineer
(fishing for the past 23 years is reform,
equal pay for equal work depending on grade or class of certificate of
competency held
and minimum and maximum wage scale to be controlled by the
department of Transport (marine) directorate shipping as in many Scandanavian
countries and some english ports.
We seamen are not represented or coverd
as good as artisans or shore personnel who could forward their complaints to
manpower or industrial
councils or unions. Yet we are the very people who
sacrifice our lives We are months and weeks away from our families (end page
1).
We do not know if we leave port if we will return, we bring millions
in foreign currency for the country, we supply every household
with their
seafoods right around South Africa, yet we are the people who are left in the
closet.
You hear I&J this Sea Harvest that, Oceanic this, so much
diamonds have been mined etc. etc. But whose lives were sacrificed
so the
nation can have crayfish on their tables or that beautiful diamond ring?
So
you might be asking what can or should legally be done. To the best of my
knowledge the following would be most welcome. By all
certificate of competency
holders operating within 200 miles of the coast of South Africa (fishing). (end
page 2)
Views on fishing officers holders of competency certificates
issued by D.O.T.
1 . Minimum, maximum wage scale depending on certificae
held and tonnage
2. All officers to be be in possession of survival at sea,
firefighting and first aid certificates.
3. Wage scale fixed or sliding
to be completed by the Dept of Transport Shipping Directorate
yearly.
04,91
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4. Unfair labour practice or
dismissal to be dealt with by the D.O.T. and if called for at the discretion of
the directorate of shipping.
An enquiry to be held.
5. If no pension
and medical aid scheme
6. If no pension fund a fund can be set up on
which an officer will have to contribute to D.O.T. or ask the firm to
deduct.
7. Shore leave and annual leave for days at sea to be drawn up by
D.O.T. also maximum hours per day to be carried out.
8. At no time must
one person be on watch alone at night. Engine room is to be manned at all times
by two members one being an officer.
9. Catch commission (fish) can be
agreed by both parties.
10. A contract will be drawn up between the two
brothers and will be witnessed by an official appointed by (end page 3)
Department
of Transport,
Directorate of Shipping.
11. An insurance
payout agreement for dependents for loss of life at sea.
12. Injury or
disability agreement to be included in contract.
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