The Myanmar Seamen’s Federation (MSF) and the National Health Laboratory (NHL) under the Ministry of Health and Sports are arranging to give out health certificates recommending that the seafarers are free of COVID-19.
The agreement was signed between MSF and NHL on May 15.
The move comes after an NGO, Myanmar Seafarers’ Employment Services Federation (MSESF), wrote a letter on May 14 addressed to State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, presenting the difficulties that Myanmar seamen are encountering during the global pandemic.
The sailors have encountered problems due to the outbreak of COVID-19 where they will be allowed to go abroad and get back to work only if they can show their health recommendation letter certifying that they are free from the disease.
The letter from MSESF said that Myanmar seamen are working on international vessels with expired employment contract about 2500 Myanmar seamen can’t do crew change for more than two months.
Moreover, the families of the sailors and MSESF said they are worried that the situation could affect the sailors’ mental state as well as physical conditions, reduce their performance, and increase workplace accidents unless a crew change can be immediately carried out.
The letter also described it is necessary to recognise the sailors as key workers, check them if there are free from COVID-19 using RT-PCR, and renew their certificates and documents. – Translated
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Source : Myanmar Times
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