THE Myanmar Overseas Seafarers’ Association (MOSA) plans to sign a collective agreement later this year with the Taipei, Taiwan-based National Chinese Seamen’s Union (NCSU), which is expected to result in overseas employment for thousands of Myanmar seamen, the association’s joint secretary said last week.

“This will create job opportunities for more than 10,000 Myanmar seamen,” said U Min Zaw, the joint secretary of the non-government association.

“Although more than 60,000 Myanmar seamen are registered at the Seaman Employment Control Division (SECD) under the Ministry of Transport, only about 14,000 of them are currently working,” said U Min Zaw.

Once the collective agreement is made, at least 50 per cent of the unemployed seamen are expected to be hired by shipping lines under the NCSU, he said.

The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in September 2004 for cooperation, and have been working since then to ensure that the wages of seamen employed by shipping lines that are members of the NCSU will be equal to the standard wages earned by other international seamen, he said.

“If the owners of the shipping lines violate the payment terms and conditions agreed between employees and employers, the seamen have the right to sue directly through the NCSU,” said U Min Zaw.

Once negotiations concerning the terms and conditions of employment are complete, the collective agreement will be signed, he said.