Organizing Shipbreaking WorkersOrganizing Shipbreaking Workersby

Sudhershan Rao SardeDirector

IndustriALL South Asia Regional OfficeNew Delhi

Definition Shipbreaking industry comprises

the process of dismantling a vessel’s structure for scrapping or disposal whether conducted at a beach, pier, dry dock or dismantling slip. The shipbreaking activities include removing all gear and equipment to cutting down and recycling the ship’s infrastructure.

Countries having Shipbreaking Industry

IndiaBangladeshPakistanChinaTurkey

Shipbreaking in South AsiaINDIA, BANGLADESH, and PAKISTAN

Source: “Shipbuilding Statistics” September 2011, the Shipbuilders’ Association of Japan

South Asia region- India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan account nearly 70% of world shipbreaking in gross tonnage.

Fleets’ age 25+(now being breaking)

World Completion (1926-2011 1st half)The amount of shipbreaking will be

tripled in next 25 years.

Source: “Shipbuilding Statistics” September 2011, the Shipbuilders’ Association of Japan

Ship breaking will continue to increase

More toxic contained ships to break

(note) Data source from “Shipbuilding Statistics” Sept. 2011, the Shipbuilders’ Association of Japan

World Completions by Ship Type

One of the most hazardous occupations in the world(1)

One of the most hazardous occupations in the world(2)

Number of Workers in Shipbreaking yards(est.)

2010(or latest) 2005 2000

INDIA 66,000 60,000 60,000

BANGLADESH 30,000 15,000 10,000

PAKISTAN 25,000

IMF Survey - Employment in Shipbreaking

Over 120,000 shipbreaking workers in South Asia region.

Employment in Downstream Industries

INDIAEmployment in downstream Industries : 5,00,000 Re-rolling Mills, Foundries, Scrap-handling Yards, Goods stores and other small businesses.

BANGLADESH : 2,00,000

PAKISTAN : 1,50,000

Employment Profile

• Migrant Workers• Employed through chain of contractors• Invisible owners• Informal Nature of Employment• Weak Regulatory Mechanisms• Labor Legislation and Statues observed more

in breach• Women less than 3 %

Major sites are:• Alang & Sosiya (world’s largest shipbreaking site)• At full capacity directly employs 60,000 workers

Mumbai• At full capacity directly employs 6,000 workers• Other small yards

• Workers in Shipbreaking and the downstream Industries together 5,66,000

• Majority of the workers are migrant.

Working Conditions

• Jobs are controlled by layers of contractors.• Casual nature of work.• Handling of hazardous waste without proper

protection & safety• Accident prone industry • Labour intensive industry• Lack of basic amenities

Working Conditions

• No security of employment• No adequate training and redeployment

facilities• Meagre Wages• Widespread prevalent of Occupational

Diseases

Occupational Health and Safety

Fatal accidents at Alang Shipbreaking Yards (Year-wise)

• 2006-6• 2007-6• 2008-0• 2009-16• 2010-16• 2011-7• 2012 (till date)-3

Endeavour of IndustriALL in Organizing Ship Breaking Workers

• IndustriALL and its affiliate SMEFI with solidarity support from FNV Mondial has been able to form Unions for the Ship Breaking Workers (SBW) at Mumbai and Alang

• SBWs at Mumbai were enrolled as members of Mumbai Port Trust, Dock & General Employees’ Union (MPTDGEU) by special resolution

Contd…. Several Surveys conducted viz;

Working and Socio-Economic Conditions of SBWs in India, Scrap Disposal, Working conditions in downstream industries, Spending Pattern of SBWs and Comparative Study of Wages in Similar Industries

The Supreme Court Monitoring Committee on hazardous waste has also taken note of the said survey report.

Government of India Inter-Ministerial Committee took cognizance of the Ship breaking Workers Memorandum.

The first ever International Conference of Ship Breaking Workers was held in Mumbai on 19-20 April 2011.

Contd….• Delegates of SBWs of South Asia represented at

International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Basel Convention (BC)

• The employers were made to pay compensation to the bereaved families in fatal accidents.

• Employment given to the eligible kin.• The Ship breaking workers are able to ventilate their

grievances and activity collectively in defense of their rights.

Vision of Green Recycling

• IndustriALL and its Affiliates are endeavouring with Ship Builders for Building ships in Green manner : No toxic materials including asbestos Shipbreaking friendly building process

• Convey knowledge and technics/skills of OHS which can be used for shipbreaking.

• And more ……..

The Road Ahead...

1) Promotion of Tripartism is the need of the Hour• In informal employments tripartism is the only

way out. Employers, Governments and Workers should be part of an Institutional Framework, hold discussions, frame policies and ensure implementation.

• Some of the best examples of Informal employments like Beedi Workers, Mathadi Act, Construction workers etc.

• Tripartism institutionalised at Industry, State and National Levels.

2) Promotion of Social Dialogue• Ship recycling has environmental and

livelihood impacts. Due to weak regulatory mechanisms, recycling is being shifted to developing countries.

• Civil Society actors need to be involved for sustainable ship recycling. All judicial pronouncements on ship recycling due to Civil Society Activism.

• Social Dialogue implies all stakeholders are consulted and Sustainability is ensured.

3) Building Regional Networks • Market forces tend to create race to the bottom

in South Asia. • Intense competition within South Asia tends to

weaken regulatory mechanisms further. • Trade unions and concerned Civil Society

Organisations have to Build networks to create level playing fields, protect labor rights and promote environmental concerns.

• To make this a reality dialogue between the trade unions and the Civil Society Groups is fundamental.

Emerging Geo-Political Contours

• South Asia the emerging hub of manufacturing and trade.

• Opening of trade between India and Pakistan key to CENTRAL ASIA.

• Opening of trade route between India and Myanmar key to ASEAN.

THANKS FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION