THEY are planning to implement a pension system for Myanmar seafarers to ensure their survival in old age, said Captain Soe Min Aung, President of the Myanmar Seafarers Federation.
The concept was initiated after seeing old sailors in trouble, he said.
“The reason for pension is because we have found that many seafarers are homeless and helpless among our peers. What if a young sailor had no money when he got old? We must create a pension system. The existing pension law does not cover private employees, including sailors. So, we have initiated and written in our CBA that the pension will be saved from the seafarers’ salaries and we are discussing with the organizations that will manage it. We will announce when we get an agreement,” he added.
MSF established a committee with seven external volunteers to care for sick and elderly seafarers in 2021, and it has provided K180 million to 800 sick and elderly seafarers in three years. As the government social security system is appropriate for seafarers to protect their families, the federation obtained a social security permit in 2022 and thus any seafarer, including his or her family and children over 18, is eligible for this protection.
“For social security purposes, the salary is set at K300,000 for an officer or others, regardless of the level. For the family, it is determined to be K150,000. Two parts of social security include healthcare and compensation for injuries and deaths. We have made it possible for any sailor family to visit the clinics and hospitals run by the social security for medical treatment and hospitalization,” he said.
MT/ZN
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