Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos is being targeted by shipping groups to support some 400,000 seafarers stuck on merchant vessels because of port and border restrictions to stop the spread of Covid-19.
While consumer giants such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble have called for measures to allow more crew changes at ports, ensure the safety of overworked seafarers and make sure supply chains don't use forced labour, the world's largest e-commerce retailer has so far remained silent on the issue, according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
"The strength of Amazon's (and others') supply chain is central to the success of red-letter retail days like Black Friday," groups including the ICS wrote in an open letter to Bezos released with a joint statement on Thursday. "Without these seafarers, global trade as we know it would simply cease to exist."
The letter urged Bezos to exert pressure on the new US administration and other leaders to recognise seafarers as key workers. Amazon didn't immediately respond to e-mailed requests for comment.
A Bloomberg investigation earlier this year uncovered more than 40 seafarers on nearly as many ships who described deteriorating conditions. About half didn't have current contracts and some said they hadn't been paid in more than two months, meeting the International Labour Organisation's definition of forced labour. Most hadn't left their ships in months after coronavirus outbreaks tied to cruise liners and merchant ships put an end to shore leave.
"Unforgivably, more than 400,000 of our seagoing colleagues and seafarers, who underpin the movement of goods around the world, are currently stranded on board their vessels because governments will not recognise their crucial role and prioritise them for immigration and travel purposes," the letter to Bezos said.
The letter said about 90% of global trade relies on shipping and the success of shopping events such as Cyber Monday wouldn't be possible without the work of seafarers. "Throughout some of the most difficult conditions in memory they have continued to transport the goods needed to satisfy the demand generated by platforms including Amazon," it said.
Bloomberg
