Dakuku made this known recently while addressing participants at the Business Africa meeting at the ongoing 107th session of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where consideration for the review of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 would be made.
The DG who noted that the industry must partner with workers to develop a strategy that will contribute to the constant development of Human Resources in the sector said that investment in workforce is a sure way to guarantee success of firms and boost profitability.
According to him, “employees are the most critical factor that determines the success of a firm, this is even truer in the Maritime industry that is capital intensive and where safety is paramount so constant training and development as well as welfare of workforce must be taken seriously“.
He further urged AFRICAN businessmen to pay great attention to welfare of workers in order to be able to compete favourably in the international market adding that the maritime industry in particular could play greater role in the economic growth of third world countries if the right investment is made in the sector.
He commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the review of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 and also advised that considerations should be given to peculiarities of the different geopolitical areas of the world in the amendments, adding however that after 10 years, the MLC 2006 ought to be reviewed to meet the challenges of emerging trends.