Women seafarers continue to face serious discrimination when they become mothers, as shown by a new complaint from a woman seafarer brought to public attention by PEPIETH. The case involves the dismissal of a seafarer during her pregnancy, highlighting once again an institutional gap that leaves women in shipping without substantial protection.
Once again, Cpt Dr. Georgios Valls, the President of the Panhellenic Union of Private and Professional Yacht Crews, is on the front line of a fight that never stops! The fight for justice, equality and respect towards women seafarers who suffer discrimination the moment they decide to become mothers.
In recent days a new seafarer complaint comes to light thanks to PEPIETH and Cpt Dr. Georgios Valls. A shocking case that comes to highlight for the umpteenth time the chronic problem faced by women seafarers, as they battle not only the waves, but also injustice…
Specifically, the complaint comes from a 26-year-old seafarer, who works on a professional vessel. The woman, after working continuously since 2022, at the end of September closed her seaman’s book without knowing she was pregnant. Something which was confirmed a few weeks later, with a certified pregnancy.
“I did not know I was pregnant when the seaman’s book was closed. Two weeks later I found out. I continue to work normally, without being hired, just so I don’t lose my rights,” she characteristically states.
This complaint is not an isolated one, but comes to be added to a series of incidents that show the magnitude of the problem. It is a piece of a chain of injustices experienced daily by women in Greek yachting, when they dare to do the obvious… to become mothers!
The previous complaints that paved the way
A few months earlier, another woman-member of the Union, who was at that time in her 4th month of pregnancy, was forced to temporarily leave her work for health reasons, with sick leave, following a medical opinion recommending absolute rest.
Instead of receiving the necessary support from the employer, however, she faced coldness, pressure and threats of dismissal, despite her legal and documented condition.
Although she worked on a vessel under the Greek flag with a permanent contract, she risked losing every insurance and financial right, simply because she became pregnant. And this is because if a woman is not an active seafarer she cannot receive the benefits she is entitled to.
The case immediately reached the hands of Cpt Dr. Georgios Valls, who proceeded with an official report to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Headquarters of the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, requesting intervention to prevent any form of discrimination.
Despite the repeated appeals by PEPIETH and its president, the legislative gap continues to leave women of the sea without substantial protection. Instead of being treated with respect and care, women seafarers who want to become mothers face intimidation, coercion and “bullying”, resulting in many postponing starting a family, for fear of unemployment or exclusion from the profession.
And all this while they pay hefty insurance contributions to N.A.T. and are deprived of basic social and employment rights enjoyed by other workers on land!
G.
Vallis: “Pregnancy is not a reason for dismissal, it is a reason for respect”
In this endless struggle, CptDr. Georgos Vallis fights daily to restore this chronic injustice. He does not close his eyes in the face of incidents of blackmail, dismissals and bullying of pregnant seafarers. On the contrary, he unites with the women who have no voice and claims on their behalf equal work, equal protection and equal dignity.
For years now, he has brought dozens of complaints from pregnant seafarers to light, has sent a series of letters to the Ministries of Shipping, Labor and Social Cohesion, as well as to the Greek Ombudsman, demanding equality in the treatment of female seafarers. Furthermore, several questions have been made to the competent Ministries by members of the government but the situation remains stagnant to this day.
Thanks to his coordinated interventions, the issue has now reached the highest government levels, while the Greek Ombudsman has already recognized twice, no less, the need for legislative initiatives to secure the rights of pregnant seafarers and essentially send a message that pregnancy cannot be a reason for exclusion from work.
“The sea cannot be a place of inequality. The women of shipping deserve respect, equality and protection, not fear and intimidation,” states Mr. Vallis.
As he often says, strongly supporting the concept of family: “Motherhood is a right. Not a privilege, not a risk, not a punishment. It is a foundation of society and must be protected at sea as well as on land.”
What is being requested, both by PEPIETH and its president G. Vallis from the official bodies, is so simple and self-evident:
PEPIETH and CptDr. Georgos Vallis remain unwavering on the issue of equality at sea and will not stop fighting until the very end, until the State does what is necessary and female seafarers have a “free right” to motherhood, without fear for their future.
