Seafarers Win Exceptional Rights Amid Houthi Threats

A labor union and a group including parties involved in the shipping industry announced that crew members have the right to refuse to work on ships passing through the Red Sea under a new agreement between seafarers and commercial shipping companies, as more vessels face attacks from the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen. Seafarers have already signed agreements to receive double pay when sailing in high-risk areas. In December, the regions classified as war risk and high danger were expanded to include the southern area of the Red Sea as part of negotiated arrangements between seafarers and commercial shipping companies known as the International Negotiation Forum Agreements. Under the new agreement, seafarers must give seven days' notice before entering the area and have the right to return to another location at the shipping company's expense, according to a statement from the International Transport Workers' Federation and the International Negotiation Forum. The agreement also includes compensation equivalent to two months' basic pay. The statement added, "We did not take the decision to include the right of seafarers to refuse to sail lightly, considering its potential impact on global trade; the safety of seafarers is of utmost importance."