Inequalities of a global workforce: the case of the international shipping industry

The international seafaring workforce is responsible for moving approximately 80% of all global trade. In this chapter the inequalities experienced by this workforce are explored. In doing so, issues regarding the ownership of ships, how (and where) ships are registered, and how this impacts on those who work onboard them are highlighted. In addition, it is also shown how a globalised industry, in which workers work in areas beyond national jurisdictions is regulated, and the difficulties of such regulation and the various ways in which this has enabled the exploitation of the workforce are explored. Consideration is also given to industrial relations in the industry and the ways in which trade unions, in particular the International Transport Workers’ Federation, have tried to combat inequalities. This chapter therefore highlights some of the key issues and inequalities that workers in a global workforce may face and explores the attempts made to mitigate against these.