In this episode of the AfriCan Geopardy Podcast, I spoke with Sandra Larbi, MS. HRM, Managing Director of WorldRecruit Services Limited, Ghana, about:
“Who Protects the African Worker at Sea? Race, Power, and the Global Maritime Labour Chain.”
Slavery ought to have ended, but sadly, the experiences of some African seafarers show that exploitative and deeply unequal working conditions persist. The case in Scotland, UK, which received media attention, is one such example.
In this episode, we discuss the inhumane treatment experienced by African seafarers and what these experiences reveal about race, power and the global maritime labour chain.
We also reflect on the wider implications. According to UNCTAD, Africa accounts for just 1.3% of the world’s merchant fleet. Yet Africa is increasingly being looked to as part of the solution to the projected global shortage of seafarers. This creates a fundamental contradiction: while the world looks to Africa for seafarers, African countries and young people depend heavily on the global shipping industry to provide the sea-time opportunities they need to gain the experience required to enter and progress in the profession.
So, who protects the African worker at sea?
We discuss possible solutions, including accountability, meaningful action, and calls for reparations from the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) in response to documented injustices.
A huge thank you to Sandra Larbi, MS. HRM, for sharing her time, knowledge and expertise.
Further reading: Sandra Larbi’s reflection, “From Dream to Reality: The Aspirations of Coastal Seafarers,” offers another perspective on the aspirations and experiences of coastal seafarers. Read Sandra Larbi’s article on LinkedIn
Please listen, share and support the work of the organisations working to improve the rights, dignity and working conditions of African seafarers.
#HumanRights #RaceAndPower #MaritimeSecurity
