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The Global Labour Market for Filipino and South African Seafarers in theMerchant Navy

ABSTRACT This article examines how profound shifts in the global labour market for seafarers have impacted on the labour market for South African and Filipino seafarers in the merchant navy. The article contends that the shift towards flag of convenience (FoC) shipping in the global shipping industry is a business strategy by ship owners to circumvent high labour costs and fiscal regimes. However, despite the shift to FoC shipping, wage rates and unionisation levels remain high for both Filipino and South African seafarers. Through extensive surveys of seafarers as well as drawing on secondary literature, the article demonstrates that the globalisation of labour markets and industries does not always imply an erosion of the bargaining power of organised labour.