Twenty-seven aggrieved foreign workers have been stranded on board their vessels after their Singaporean parent company wound up.
The two vessels belong to Onsys Energy Private Limited and have been stranded in waters off Singapore’s coast after the company ceased operations on 3 January this year.
The workers on board the Onsys Leo and Onsys Aquaris are from Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Myanmar and Pakistan. As the company is in the process of liquidation, the workers are owed two months’ salary.
On 11 January 2013, representatives from the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) and the Seaman Organisation of Singapore (SOS), together with legal representatives from law firm Gurbani & Company, boarded and arrested the two vessels on behalf of the court of Singapore.
The vessels now come under the custody of the court of Singapore. In the event that the company is unable to pay for what is owed to the crew, the vessels will be sold and the proceeds will then be used to pay salaries owed to the crew and for their repatriation.
The representatives from the two unions were present to offer advice and help to the aggrieved crewmen as well as liaise with the law firm to ensure that their wages are properly accounted for.
“SMOU is making sure that their well-being on board is properly taken care of, ensuring that adequate food, supplies and essential drinking water are being sent up to them regularly. The union is concerned for the welfare of seafarers and will continue to place that amongst the top priorities," said SMOU Industrial Relations Officer Daylen Tan.
