Maritime Union of India - Women's Wing

We - The Power!

The Maritime Union of India- History and work undertaken

The Maritime Union of India (MUI) represents the Merchant Navy Officers who are it’s members. It is affiliated to the International Transport Workers' Federation, London, U.K. that has to it's affiliation more than 600 transport workers' trade unions in over 135 countries and presents the interests of about 5 million workers around the world. MUI is also affiliated to the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, New Delhi, that has as it's members a very large section of workers from various industries in India. MUI is thus lawfully represented on Government and Semi Government Maritime Boards and Committees. It also liaisons with various social and welfare organizations.

Women  who made it possible - the first get together.

The Union supports, participates and organizes medical awareness and welfare camps. The main objective and aim is to work for better terms and conditions of employment of the member Merchant Navy Officers. The Union enters into periodic agreement with the national and international shipping companies. By virtue of such periodic agreements it is able to establish welfare funds for the Merchant Navy officers and their families. The Union has branches/liaison offices in Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Tuticorin. It is planning to open a few more liaison offices in major port cities of India. The Union staff is well experienced and is capable of handling as well as extending guidance in the matter of taxation, legal, financial and medical awareness.

The administration of the Union is being guided by the Executive Committee members who are elected periodically under the rules of the Indian Trade Union Act 1926. The Maritime Union of India has the support of eminent personalities and experts who are actively engaged in Legal, Medical, Maritime, Social, Welfare and Charitable activities. It publishes it's home journal the OCEANITE every quarter and it is distributed free of cost to the members and the Shipping fraternity. 

Together we inspire and empower!

MUI has an arrangement with United India Insurance Company Ltd to cover Merchant Navy Officers' Certificate of Competency to support legal cost at the time of court proceedings. It firmly supports Government and all Maritime Organizations for the Merchant Navy Officers employment prospects, welfare and solidarity. It is ever ready to work as a partner with the shipping fraternity for the welfare of the Merchant Navy Officers in all spheres of maritime concerns, their development and prosperity.

Now that there are women who have made great careers in the maritime industry it’s but natural that they too have a representation. I am a firm believer of gender equity; formulating a Women’s Wing is a step in this direction. I was a part of this historic moment. The MUI-WW was formally unveiled on 26^th January 2018. The day will be marked in golden letters just as it became the Republic Day of India in 1950.

The Unveiling of the Women's Wing, MUI-WW

No matter where you are in life, inspire and empower the women around you! Success is never reached alone, and wisdom as well as wealth is sweeter when shared. Were the words of Ms. Saleha Shaikh who is the head of the MUI-WW, the lady instrumental in turning the dream into a reality. 

With this beautiful thought, we set off on our maiden voyage, empowered with passion and purpose. After all happy and healthy families make happy seafarers. Happy seafarers make the fraternity strong! MUI General Secretary, Mr Amar Singh Thakur graced the occasion. He spoke about the history and purpose of setting up of MUI and the idea behind starting the Women Wing now. The historic moment was inaugurated with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the invited dignitaries along with Mr. Thakur and Ms. Shaikh. 

The ladies, wives of officers as well as lady seafarers were registered as members. The MUI-Women's Wing (WW) thus had it's first get-together at Mumbai. The event commenced with an empowering session by 'Take Charge Expert’ and author Ms.Gemini Dhar. It was a great platform for synergy, experience sharing, collaborating and networking. The ladies had a great time interacting with each other over high tea. Women's Wing head, Ms Saleha Zubair Shaikh revealed the details of the exciting activities planned for the upcoming events. A room full of women can do wonders if they join their hands and decide to support each other. That itself is so very powerful! It was a pleasure to have 3rd Engineer Ms. Jhilam Chatterjee at the first meet up. We look forward to have more of our women seafarers gracing future gatherings, now that the platform is created.

In session - Ms. Gemini Dhar

Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress but working together is success. We wish to climb the ladder of success together, empowering every woman and creating space for fair representation, experience sharing, ideating; above all making the maritime fraternity robust! It is rightly said, "You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will!"