每年6月25日定為世界海員日，藉以表揚海員對世界貿易的貢獻。今年世界新型冠狀病毒病疫情起起伏伏，海員努力不懈在極具挑戰性的條件下保持全球供應鏈穩定，其重要性不容置疑。為確保海員待遇更受重視，今年國際海事組織（IMO）以海員的公平未來作為世界海員日的主題。
The Day of the Seafarer, held on 25 June every year, draws global attention to the contribution that seafarers make to world trade. As the world slowly moves through the pandemic, it is more important than ever not only to acknowledge the efforts that seafarers have made to keeping the supply chain open despite extremely challenging conditions, but also to ensure that the future being built is one that is fair to them. This is why IMO’s 2021 Day of the Seafarer campaign has chosen the theme of “A Fair Future for Seafarers”.
今年是連續第二年在疫情大流行期間的世界海員日，惟全球數以十萬計海員仍受疫情影響，不少人滯留船上，上岸休假及醫療支援問題仍未解決，即使陷入久未換班的海員人數已減少，但數字仍然高企，令人難以接受。
For a second year in a row, the day is marking as hundreds of thousands of seafarers continue to face restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to repatriation, shore leave and medical support all continue to be a challenge. Although there has been a significant reduction in the number of seafarers caught up in the crew change crisis, the numbers remain unacceptably high.
IMO繼續敦促更多成員國給予海員應有的待遇，並將他們指定為「關鍵工人」地位，有權優先接種疫苗，並允許不受限制地出入各國。目前只有60個IMO成員國將海員指定為關鍵工人，IMO將繼續與其他聯合國機構、行業和成員國合作，支持海員。
As key workers, seafarers should be entitled to priority vaccination and allowed to travel without restrictions. IMO continues to urge more IMO Member States to give seafarers their due and designate them as key workers. Currently only 60 IMO member states have designated Seafarers as key workers. IMO will continue to work with sister UN Agencies, industry and member states in support of seafarers.
IMO秘書長Kitack Lim在海員日致辭中表示，2021年世界海員日活動建基於致力支持海員應對與疫情相關的挑戰上，旨在提請全球關注公平的重要，包括安全可靠的船上環境、合理的工作條件、在所有情況下的公平待遇，以及尊重所有人的權利——不分種族、性別和宗教。
In his message on the Day of the Seafarer, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said, “Our 2021 Day of the Seafarer campaign builds on the progress to support seafarers on pandemic-related challenges. It aims to draw global attention to all areas where fairness is important. This includes a safe, secure environment on ships, reasonable working conditions, fair treatment in all situations, as well as respect for the rights of all – regardless of race, gender and religion.”
他特別提出，不少海員在#FairFuture4Seafarers標籤下討論他們對公平未來的樣子，IMO將繼續傾聽海員的聲音，並放大他們的心聲，確保他們被聽見。
“I am especially pleased that IMO will be amplifying the voices of seafarers themselves as they discuss what a fairer future would look like to them under the hashtag #FairFuture4Seafarers. Seafarers, we are listening – and we will make sure you are heard.”
https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/pages/DOTS-2021.aspx
