Royal Caribbean Fined Over €600,000 for Overworking Crew

The Netherlands has fined Royal Caribbean for violating labour rules and regulations, the local newspaper The NL Times says.

The cruise company has to pay over €600,000 ($760,000) for the overworking of the Oasis of the Seas crew while the world's largest cruise ship was undergoing a drydock in Rotterdam. Furthermore, the crew members lacked proper residence papers.

“The inspectorate of Social Affairs and Labor had hinted to Royal Caribbean Cruises in advance already that when its ship would be here it would have to adhere to Dutch rules and legislation,” the newspaper says.

Initially, the cruise ship was boarded by ten inspectors, but the violations found imposed a second visit by 45 inspectors. The inspection showed that at least 48 crew members (from South America and the Philippines) lacked proper Dutch work permits and were also apparently overworked with excessive hours. According to a Dutch law firm, the number of crew members without work permissions reaches 85. A fine of 12,000 euros per violation can be accessed and the precise amount will be determined after the end of the investigation.

Yesterday, the largest in the world cruise ship made its maiden call in the UK. Oasis of the Seas arrived in Southampton for the very first time welcomed by a crowd of hundreds.

*Original story: VesselFinder via Google News
*Image Credit: Wikimedia CC2.0