Ports : Singapore Organisation of Seamen collaborates with MPA to help Singaporean seafarers tide over COVID-19
Joint Release by SOS & MPA
More Singaporean seafarers without shipboard employment will be eligible for additional assistance under the MaritimeSG Together Package announced by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on 29 April 2020.
The Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS) is the latest seafarer union collaborating with MPA to provide the Seafarers Relief Package (SRP) to assist its Singaporean members whose shipboard employment has been affected by border control measures and crew change restrictions. The SRP provides support of $800 per month to eligible Singaporean seafarers who are unable to secure shipboard employment between 1 May 2020 and 31 July 2020.
Mr Kam Soon Huat, SOS’ President, said, “Seafarers are in a vulnerable position in this COVID-19 pandemic. Their livelihoods are adversely affected by border control measures and crew change restrictions. As a union that represents seamen, we understand the hardship that they face. We are working with MPA to offer financial assistance, in the form of this relief package, to our Singaporean seafarers and their families for them to get by.”
Ms Quah Ley Hoon, MPA’s Chief Executive, said, “MPA has been working closely with the maritime industry and unions to recognise the contributions of our seafarers who have been working to keep supply chains moving amidst this pandemic. We welcome SOS coming onboard to help those Singaporean seafarers who do not have shipboard employment through the SRP.”
The SRP is part of the MPA’s MaritimeSG Together Package to provide further financial support to the maritime industry in the wake of the global COVID-19 outbreak.
SOS delivered 650 care packs containing surgical masks, hand sanitisers, anti-bacterial hand wash, and anti-bacterial hand wipes to its members based in Singapore.
