The Director-General (D-G) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has underscored the importance of human factors to successful shipping, pointing out that it is one of the most important elements in achieving competitive edge and safety in the maritime industry.
According to a statement from NIMASA, Peterside made this known while addressing participants at the Business Africa meeting at the on-going 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.
Noting that the industry must partner with workers to develop a strategy that will contribute to the constant development of human resources in the sector, he stressed that investment in the workforce is a sure way to guarantee the success of firms and boost profitability.
“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 the welfare of workforce, must be taken seriously,“ he said.
He further urged African businessmen to pay great attention to the welfare of workers in order to be able to compete favourably in the international market, adding that the maritime industry, in particular, could play a greater role in the economic growth of third world countries if the right investment is made in the sector.
While commending the ILO for the review of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, he also advised that considerations should be given to peculiarities of the different geopolitical areas of the world in the amendments.
He, however, acknowledged that after 10 years, the MLC 2006 ought to be reviewed to meet the challenges of emerging trends.
