CHAPTER III
MARITIME AND MIGRATION PROBLEMS
HILE the most important conventions and recom-
mendations of the International Labor Organization
deal with labor problems in industry and commerce,
the Organization has devoted considerable attention to
questions affecting the welfare of seamen and emigrants. It
has made definite proposals for the protection of seamen
against unemployment caused by the loss or foundering of
the ship, for the regulation of child labor on board of ship,
for medical examinations of children and young persons
employed at sea, for the limitation of hours of work in the
fishing industry and in inland navigation, and similar mat-
ters. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the char-
acter of these proposals and the action of member nations
in complying with the terms of draft conventions and
recommendations adopted by the International Labor Con-
ferences dealing with maritime and emigration problems.
UNEMPLOYMENT INDEMNITY IN CASE OF Loss or
FOUNDERING OF THE SHIP
The Draft Convention concerning Unemployment In-
demnity in Case of Loss or Foundering of the Ship, adopted
in Genoa in 1920, provides that in case of loss or foundering
of any vessel,! the owner or person with whom the seaman
has contracted for service is to pay to each seaman an in-
demnity against any unemployment caused. This indemnity
is to be paid for the days during which the seaman is unem-
ployed, at the same rate as the wages payable under the
contract; the total indemnity, however, to any one seaman
is to be limited to two months’ wages. The Convention
further stipulates that seamen are to have the same means of
This includes all vi ssels. publicly or privately owned, except warships
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