ORCID
- Lijun Tang: 0000-0002-6815-0625
Abstract
This paper discusses one strategy that Chinese crewing agencies adopt to compete with eachother in the global seafarer labour supplying market. This strategy is related to Chineseseafarers’ social insurance participation. It shows that crewing agencies utilised a dualworkforce – ‘company-owned seafarers’ and ‘externally hired seafarers’. Externally hiredseafarers, though in precarious employment, are offered higher salaries in place of socialinsurance coverage. By contrast, company-owned seafarers are paid less, though enjoy socialinsurance arranged by agencies. This strategy serves to segment the seafarer labour market,conceal the level playing field, and help agencies recruit seafarers cost-effectively, though inviolation of labour rights. This paper argues that this strategy grows out of the competitivelandscape co-shaped by the national regulatory and institutional settings and the globalstructure of the shipping industry.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2022-01-01
Publication Title
Global Networks: a Journal of Transnational Affairs
Volume
22
Issue
1
ISSN
1470-2266
Acceptance Date
2021-06-08
Deposit Date
2021-08-06
Embargo Period
2023-06-26
Keywords
agency employment, labour market segmentation, market making, seafarer labour market
First Page
89
Last Page
102
Recommended Citation
Chen, G., & Tang, L. (2022) 'Competing for seafaring labour: social security and agency employment in Chinese shipping', Global Networks: a Journal of Transnational Affairs, 22(1), pp. 89-102. Available at: 10.1111/glob.12331
