Regardless of membership or non-membership, Myanmar Seafarers Federation (MSF) has provided assistance to seafarers and their families in dealing with difficulties they have encountered, said MSF chairman, Captain U Soe Min Aung.
If seafarers and their families have difficulties, MSF has opened the door to welcome them and consult, he said.
“Either our members or non-members, any seaman or his family can come to meet us if they are facingave difficulties. We have opened the door. They can come to consult us any time,” he said.
MSF has assisted to settle problems through face-to-face negotiations and if the negotiation can’t reach a compromise, it has helped them to find a solution by proceedings, he said.
“There is an ongoing case that a seafarer died but no compensation was received. For not receiving compensation, we had mediated with the department and regional representative, but didn’t reach a compromise, therefore we have helped his family who are going to file a lawsuit,” he said.
About 5 cases are left to be settled by litigation, he said.
“We don’t want to do things that have to find settlement in court. We prefer to find a compromise through negotiations between two parties. We just mediate between them without taking charge but sacrificing a lot- time, manpower and our own finance. But sometimes there are cases, that no settlement is reached, there needs to continue to be settled at court. It is not good for both parties,” said Captain U Soe Min Aung.
MT/ZS
