Enforcing workers’ compensation rights for Chinese seafarers in human resource supply chains

Desai Shan and Pengfei Zhang
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Desai Shan: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Pengfei Zhang: Solent University, UK

The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 2021, vol. 32, issue 2, 247-265

Abstract: Non-compliance with labour standards impedes enforcement of workers’ rights in human resource supply chains. Despite governments’ efforts to improve labour standards and encourage employer-centred voluntary compliance programmes, infringements of workers’ rights are widely reported. Using a qualitative socio-legal study of Chinese seafarers’ workers’ compensation rights, we investigate whether shipping companies and their crewing agencies comply with their legal obligations following workplace injuries and fatalities. Through 74 semi-structured interviews and analysis of crew management policies from 7 shipping companies, we identify a failure of most shipowners’ internal policies to comply with legal obligations. Furthermore, multinational shipping companies use crewing agencies to evade their liabilities to injured seafarers. We propose the establishment of a joint liability mechanism between employers and labour intermediaries to fill this compliance gap that exists in global human resource supply chains. JEL Codes: J81, J83, L91, M54, N75

Keywords: Human resource supply chain; labour supply chain; regulatory compliance; seafarers; workers’ compensation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:32:y:2021:i:2:p:247-265

DOI: 10.1177/1035304620962724

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