From April 1 to May 18, 20567 Chinese crew members have changed shifts in China's domestic ports, among whom 10547 on board and 10020 off board, with more than 10,000 people getting on and off the ships.
During the prevention and control of the epidemic, it has become a hot topic of social concern that the crew's rights and interests can not be effectively protected, which has always been the concern of He Jianzhong, Chairman of China Institute of Navigation and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport.
During 2020 NPC and CPPCC annual sessions, he put forward a new proposal called for protecting the rights and interests of seafarers, building a high-quality crew, laying a solid foundation for China's shipping development target, and strengthening the education of nautical knowledge for teenagers to provide intellectual and talent support for maritime development.
Building a High Quality Crew
More than 90% of China's foreign trade volume is currently completed by sea transportation, but the seafarers who undertake this important task are becoming “migrant workers”.
“General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that an economic power must be a maritime power and a shipping power. We must build a high-quality crew.” On May 21, He Jianzhong said in an interview that the construction of the crew involves training, employment and management, which is a long-term and arduous systematic project, and requires joint participation and promotion of multiple departments and the whole society.
By the end of 2019, China has a total of 1.66 million registered crew members, among whom 783,000 are seafarers and 877,000 inland river crew, ranking first in the world. He Jianzhong told the reporters that although China's crew is large, the problem is very prominent. He systematically sorted out the main problems existing in the crew, such as the imperfect management socialization mechanism, the weak practical ability, the decline of profession attractiveness, and the lack of effective protection of rights and interests.
“According to the statistics of relevant departments, in 2010, there were more than 50,000 students enrolled in maritime majors nationwide, and less than 16,000 students in 2018. In the past two years, the boarding rate of maritime graduates is less than 50%.” He Jianzhong said that the seafarer is a high-risk occupation, the salary advantages no longer exist, medical care and communication freedom can not be fully enjoyed, and it is inconvenient for seafarers to go ashore and their families to visit, and it is hard to say it is a “decent” job.
How to enhance the profession attractiveness of seafarers and build a high-quality crew? He Jianzhong believes that they should adhere to the guidance of law, goal, problem and service, check the quality, guide the market, support the system, strengthen the industrial management, mobilize social forces, implement the business liabilitits, and build a high-quality crew.
He Jianzhong suggested that the first is to revise and improve the regulations of crew management, further clarify the management rules of professionalization and socialization of crew and implement measures to protect the rights and interests of them. The second is to promote the implementation of the main responsibility of supervision and crew training, urge shipping companies to conscientiously implement the main responsibility of crew training, and encourage school-enterprise cooperation in targeted training of crew. The third is to deepen the reform of crew management system, promote the establishment of credit system of crew market, and guide crew labor from price market to value market. The fourth is to earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of crew, deepen the reform of technical titles system for crew, study and make standards for shore welfare-based facilities, and improve the working and living conditions of crew. The fifth is to vigorously promote the maritime culture, enhance the social recognition of crew, and stimulate the professional pride of seafarers.
Strengthen Nautical Education of Teenagers and Raising Awareness of Navigation of Whole People
“The Report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly states that we should adhere to the overall planning of land and sea and accelerate the construction of a maritime power. In order to build a maritime power, we must first promote people’s awareness of sea and navigation, especially the marine awareness of teenagers.” He Jianzhong said that maritime knowledge education for young people is basic to provide intellectual and talent support for a maritime power, which is of great significance to the construction of a maritime power.
He Jianzhong said that although China's youth maritime education has made some progress in recent years, the enthusiasm, support and leading role of relevant departments in promoting maritime education are not enough, and there has not been a set of educational activities and a perfect curriculum system for young people to form a complete set of maritime knowledge. “At present, the number of various types of maritime knowledge outreach education bases in China is less than 100, most of which are comprehensive and located in coastal provinces.” He added.
He Jianzhong suggested that they should strengthen the top-level design, study the supporting policies for teenager maritime education, formulate guidance to further strengthen the maritime education for teenagers, encourage cooperation, establish scientific and systematic maritime education system and curriculum, put the important maritime knowledge into teaching materials and classes, and facilitate the construction of carriers to create a group of young people's favorite maritime education brands with wide influence. They should combine the local navigation facilities such as docks, ships and museums to establish practical bases for teenager maritime knowledge education; intensify publicity and promotion, seize the opportunity of major maritime activities such as China Navigation Day Forum, and create a good atmosphere for the whole society to care about and support maritime education and maritime culture construction.