Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has expressed confidence that issuance of the seafarers' cards, which meets international standards, will serve as a potential solution to the challenges seafarers face when travelling to other countries. The remarks were made by the minister in a ceremony held to commemorate the International Day of the Seafarer.
During the ceremony, Minister Ameen disclosed that the Maldives has been devoid of passenger cards for air travellers for a period of nearly eight years, despite participating in a treaty with the International Labour Organization (ILO). The minister stated that this was a major concern of seamen, highlighting that the problem was not resolved in the previous administrations. Noting that seafarers face significant administrative obstacles due to the lack of seafarer cards, he revealed that the most vital proposal of the seamen during the change in administration, was to issue ILO identity cards.
On this stance, Minister Ameen reiterated the commitment of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to resolve the issue, additionally revealing that the budget has also been allocated to expedite the process. As a result, arrangements have been made within eight months by the relevant authorities to issue seafarer cards. Emphasising that this is proof that dedicated efforts will facilitate reaching the targets, the minister disclosed that the government incurred expenses of approximately USD50,000 to solve the issue.
Furthermore, Minister Ameen stressed that the difficulties encountered by seafarers have had a negative impact on seafarers, leading to the loss of numerous occupations over time. It further challenged individuals who were interested in entering the field as well. However, the minister stated that opportunities are now available for all interested in entering the field.