The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), has launched a new logo for its women in maritime programme, as part of its mission to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality and empower all women and girls.
This is also as the APM Terminals Apapa has granted more opportunities to females to prove their competence in the sector, as it got government’s nod to hire women for night shift.
However, Programme lead, Helen Buni, said: “The IMO Women in Maritime programme supports the participation of women in both shore-based and sea-going posts, under the slogan Training-Visibility-Recognition’, through a wide range of gender-specific activities. The new logo is just one visible part of the programme and will help women in maritime gain more visibility and exposure throughout the maritime sector and beyond.”
The primary objective of the IMO Women in Maritime programme is to encourage IMO member states to open the doors of their maritime institutes to enable women to train alongside men and acquire the high-level of competence that the maritime industry demands.
The new development, according APM Terminal Apapa was in line with its move to promote gender diversity and inclusion within the organisation.
Director of the Trade Union Services & Industrial Relations under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Akpan .O.U., signed the grant of permit order on January 21, citing sufficient physical provisions and the company’s robust maternity policy.
The Ministry’s order also requires APM Terminals Apapa to comply with the provisions of Convention 171 or the Night Work Convention of the International Labour Organisation, a United Nations specialised agency aimed at promoting rights at work, encouraging decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues. Nigeria is a member State of ILO.
APM Terminals Apapa Head of Human Resources, Aniemeka Umeonyido, said: “APM Terminals is deeply committed to advance diversity and inclusion across the organisation, and we are delighted to have the support of the government in cultivating this culture.
Securing this permit is an important first step in building an inclusive workplace where all talents have the same opportunity to grow and achieve their full potential,”
APM Terminals Apapa filed the permit application in April 2018, expressing that many qualified female employees over the years have indicated interest and willingness to work the graveyard shift.
However, a provision in the Labour Act in Nigeria prohibits night work for women in industrial setting.
With the permit, Umeonyido said they anticipate an increase in the number of female candidates for posted vacancies.
In fact, a female candidate has been considered as the top choice in a pool of applicants for the role of Reach Stacker and Empty Handler Operator, who operates yard handling equipment for moving containers between vessels and yard operations.
“Our immediate focus is clear: to tap into a broader and more diverse pool of talents and create a globally competitive organisation,” Umeonyido stated.
The launch of the new logo for the Women in Maritime programme comes as IMO focuses on women in maritime during 2019, under the World Maritime Day theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”.
The Women in Maritime programme is largely funded through IMO’s Technical Cooperation fund, with a great deal of in-kind and financial support from a number of donors. IMO continues to seek new sources of funding in order to support the programme into the future.
(Guardian)
