Worker Injustices in the South Asian Shipbreaking Industry: Developing a Framework for International Legal Accountability

This book fills a critical gap in research on the shipbreaking industry by analyzing the shortcomings of current international and domestic laws. It argues that existing frameworks, such as the Hong Kong Convention and Basel Convention, are insufficient in protecting workers’ health and safety, as evidenced by ongoing fatalities and work-related diseases in South Asia’s shipbreaking industry. The book proposes a new framework that goes beyond prevention to include compensation, holding international shipowners accountable for the harm caused to workers. This includes introducing a Shipbreaking Liability Certificate (SLC) and accompanying insurance, ensuring that affected workers or their families receive compensation. Drawing on lessons from other industries with successful regulatory changes, the book suggests that these measures be adopted under a legal framework supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In addition to its practical recommendations, the book contributes a new theoretical approach by applying rectificatory global justice to the issue of shipbreaking, an area largely unexplored in existing literature. The combination of legal analysis and case studies provides a strong foundation for the proposed civil liability framework, offering a comprehensive solution to the challenges faced by the shipbreaking industry. This book is essential reading for anyone involved in the shipbreaking industry, from policymakers and legal experts to shipowners and international organizations.