Over 100 sailors gathered in front of Yangon City Hall on Tuesday to protest a number of policies set by the Department of Marine Administration (DMA) that cripple their chances of career advancement in ways non-Myanmar sailors do not suffer.
Myanmar seamen are obstructed from attaining officer ranks by the K20 million ($15,500) fee for the required exam, and they also suffer discrimination at the hands of exam proctors. In other countries, the protestors said, the test is computerized.
They also said the Seafarers Recruitment and Placement Service agencies impose fees ranging from K4 million ($3,100) to K2 million ($1,500), depending on experience, to get a Myanmar sailor a job on a ship.
They also have to pay fees to the DMA, which is notoriously unresponsive to complaints of malpractice perpetrated by recruitment agencies. Myanmar sailors have been stranded or arrested abroad after being sent by recruiters for jobs that do not exist. The department has also done little to protect Myanmar sailors whose wages have been withheld.
Moreover, seamen are not guaranteed due process when conflicts arise on ships; they are vulnerable to losing their licenses based on unfounded accusations.
“Our seamen can compete internationally in terms of work skills and qualifications. But we all are being suppressed. We are also prohibited by our own government from reporting to the International Transportation Federation about our grievances,” Independent Federation of Myanmar Seafarers president U Zaw Aung told The Myanmar Times.
Earlier this year, Myanmar signed the Maritime Labour Convention, which is meant to protect sailors’ labour rights in line with international standards. However, this week’s protest showed that the convention has yet to grow any teeth.
