All employees on off shore casinos may be termed as seafarers

All the employees working on off shore casinos in Goa would be termed as seafarers, if India accepts the Maritime Labour Convention adopted in Geneva, a senior official said.

All the employees working on off shore casinos in Goa would be termed as seafarers, if India accepts the Maritime Labour Convention adopted in Geneva, a senior official said.

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“India is yet to endorse the convention adopted in Geneva. It has been endorsed by almost all the seafarer nations,” Dr Suresh Idnani, trustee, International Committee on Seafarers Welfare, told reporters in Panaji.

The casino operators would be required to provide all the employment benefits to those working on the casinos if they are considered as ‘seafarers´.

Goa is the only Indian state to have ships with Casinos on it. The gaming ships are anchored in Mandovi river across capital city of Panaji, which has attracted lot of opposition on moral and legal basis.

Dr Idnani said that currently only the staff maintaining the ship are covered as seafarers. “Once the convention is endorsed, even those working as entertainers or on gaming tables or even security personnel would be termed as seafarers,” he added.

Clarifying the argument that since casino ships don’t sail in the sea, the staff cannot be termed as seamen, Dr Idnani said that “Even if it floats in the water, the safety aspect comes into effect,” he said.