The Mission to Seafarers (MtS), an international charity focused on seafarer welfare, has announced a three-year partnership with IKEA Supply AG.
Revealed on the IMO Day of the Seafarer, this initiative will see IKEA collaborate with the Mission to enhance understanding and awareness of seafarers’ critical role in the IKEA supply chain, improving their wellbeing.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that seafarers, who play a critical role in sustaining global trade, receive the recognition, support, and protection they deserve, and we applaud IKEA for taking this step. By helping to educate the IKEA team about the unique challenges faced by seafarers, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and drive meaningful change in the maritime industry,” stated Ben Bailey, director of the Programme at The Mission to Seafarers.
Central to this partnership is a training programme for IKEA employees titled ‘All You Need to Know About Seafarers’. The inaugural session of this course took place in May 2024, designed to support IKEA in its due diligence process when procuring ocean shipping services, ensuring that seafarers are properly protected and supported.
The partnership emerged from discussions during the pandemic, at the height of the shore leave crisis. Since then, IKEA has actively prioritized seafarer welfare, setting a commendable example for other cargo owners to follow.
Furthermore, the Mission to Seafarers has developed a bespoke training programme for IKEA, covering a wide range of topics such as the realities of life at sea, seafarers’ welfare needs, family life, and the legal frameworks and regulations that protect their rights in recruitment and employment. This programme offers IKEA participants valuable insights into the challenges seafarers face, which is crucial for a company that heavily relies on seafarers in its supply chain but does not interact with them directly.
The IMO Day of the Seafarer has been observed since 2010, following the release of the revised international laws under the Maritime Labour Convention, which mandate uniform standards of training, welfare, and safety for all seafarers. By celebrating this day, the Mission to Seafarers and IKEA aim to raise public awareness about the essential role of seafarers and encourage those who depend on international shipping to use their influence to protect seafarers’ rights and prioritize their wellbeing.
