The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITWF) and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) have decided to maintain the Strait of Hormuz as a “Warlike Operations Area” until July 9. This decision comes in response to recent attacks on two cargo ships in late June, which prompted the United Nations maritime agency to halt an evacuation plan for vessels stranded in the region.
In their joint statement, the ITWF, representing transport workers, and the JNG, which advocates for maritime employers, emphasized that seafarers working on ships governed by International Bargaining Forum labor agreements will continue to receive double pay while operating in the Strait of Hormuz. This measure reflects the ongoing and significant risks to life in the area.
The International Maritime Organization reported that approximately 11,000 seafarers remain stranded on about 600 commercial vessels in the Strait. During a brief evacuation effort, around 2,500 seafarers and 115 vessels were successfully evacuated over three days, but the operation was ultimately suspended due to the escalating violence against ships in the region.
