Work on cruises. From prolongation to the intensity of working hours.
Responsible Tourism
26-04-2021
Angela Teberga
Reports
Published
Summary
In 2019, the cruise industry generated more than 500,000 direct jobs worldwide. However, very little knowledge about the working conditions to which cruise crews are subjected. The purpose of this report is to study the working conditions of cruise ship crews by analyzing their working hours. The choice of this variable is justified because the international literature is unanimous in pointing out that exhausting work shifts (long and intense workdays) are the modus operandi of work on these ships. In this research, it was confirmed that crew members of lower functional hierarchy (crew) work an average of 11.3 hours per day and 6.97 days per week. In addition, more than 80% of the interviewees perceive an increase in work intensity over time. We conclude that, according to the analysis carried out, cruise ships are the ideal laboratory for the exploitation of labor in the tourism sector because, in addition to reproducing the same mechanisms to increase corporate profits, they take advantage of loopholes in international legislation to make the crew's working day more flexible by allowing maximum work limits (14 hours/day or 72 hours/week).
References
Teberga, A. (2021). Works on cruises. From prolongation to the intensity of working hours. Barcelona: Alba Sud Editorial, Series Reports in Contrast, n. 15.
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