Corporate Social Responsibility - a tool for recruitment and retention of seafarers
In December 2004, DNV Research group released a Technical Report: Corporate Social Responsibility in Shipping, which pointed out that while CSR has been raised higher on the agenda of most land-based industries, this has not been the case in the maritime sector.
Shipping or shipping- related companies comprised only 0.4% of the subscribers to the UN Global Compact; 0.4% of registered reporters in the Global Reporting Initiative; and, 2.9% of the members in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
The DNV Report defines a socially responsible shipping company as one that works actively to integrate human, social and environmental concerns in their business operations in order to create a positive impact on society.
While some may argue that the demand for seafarers will decline as a result of the current global financial crisis, I believe that it is an opportune time to adopt the definition of Corporate Social Responsibility in the management of our human resources and allow this to re- define current legislation as well as redirect the focus of education and training.
It is encouraging to note that there is a sincere interest on the part of all stake- holders to ensure the ratification of the ILO Maritime Labor Convention of 2006, where for the first time in history, there will be a global understanding of and agreement to the various conventions governing employment in the maritime sector.
Following this initiative, governments and other regulatory bodies must give due consideration to seafarers rights in the approach to maritime pollution investigations; employers must instit- utionalize their human resource development and training programs and view these as investments for the future; and, equal opportunities must be avail- able to female seafarers who continue to be an untapped resource.
Through the involvement of educational institutions, the youth can be made aware of the importance of the industry and the vast career opportunities available in shipping. Seafarers should be encouraged to maximize programs for training and development so that they are able to assume executive positions after their careers at sea.
In February 2007, Brandt Wagner, Senior Maritime Specialist of the ILO stated that in order to sustain the seafaring profession, seafarers must be valued and treated with respect. This is the essence of CSR. It is my hope that in light of today's global economic crisis coupled with the projected deficit of officers in the years to come, industry stakeholders will come together to fulfill this obligation to our seafarers and in so doing, make the environment in which they are employed more attractive and conducive for their growth as individuals and professionals.
It was Martin Luther King Jr. who once said that: "The time is always right to do what is right." At no time has this been truer than now.