Francesca Mangano on Addressing the Crew Change Crisis

Hundreds of thousands of seafarers are still stranded at sea due to COVID-induced port restrictions. The global crew change crisis, one of the Top 10 Business and Human Rights Issues for 2021, is now well into its second year.

In this episode of Voices, IHRB's Francesca Fairbairn speaks to Francesca Mangano of TFG London - a South African retail business with a global supply chain - about the company’s efforts to address the crew change crisis. Francesca discusses TFG’s steep learning curve from very little visibility on its maritime logistics to addressing the rights of seafarers aboard vessels carrying its goods.  She describes engaging with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to ensure that all container ships they use have collective bargaining agreements in place that guarantee minimum labour rights for the seafarers; and engaging with its maritime partners to accept the IMO Industry Recommended Framework of Protocols, which set out general measures and procedures designed to ensure that ship crew changes can take place safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The issues discussed are also featured as a case study in a new guidance from the UN Global Compact, "Maritime Human Rights Risks and The Covid-19 Crew Change Crisis - A Tool to Support Human Rights Due Diligence", to which IHRB has contributed. 

Francesca Mangano is the CSR and Sustainability Executive at TFG London. As head of the CSR and Sustainability Department, and with over 15 years' experience in human rights, ethical trading and sustainability, she is leading the development of TFG London corporate social and environmental responsibility strategy aimed at guiding the business to work within its sphere of influence towards human rights, labour rights and environmental responsibility.