One of the world’s largest shipping companies has laid off supervisors and asked employees to share their experiences. There have been cases of sexual harassment and even rape on the company’s ships.
COPENHAGEN Sophie Bach Simonsen began working at Maersk in addition to his maritime studies about eight years ago. He experienced inappropriate use from his first cadet assignments.
– Once, when my muscles were really sore after a hard workout, my colleague promised to show me how to strengthen and stretch them. Then he grabbed my breasts. I was shocked and just wondering what the hell is going on, Simonsen says.
The case was not the only one. Both Bach Simonsen’s appearance and professionalism were criticized, and a married male colleague suggested she have sex. With Bach Simon’s last remaining ship assignment, some older employees barked at him as a stupid and bad employee in consultation with other employees.
– I was scared, and for many weeks I wouldn’t have wanted to leave my cabin. At night, I put a chair in front of the door to hear if the bullies were trying to come inside, Simonsen finally recalls her eyes moist with a shivering voice.
The incident occurred in South African waters during a corona pandemic, further delaying return home. Because of the bullying, he changed jobs to another maritime company.
Bach Simonsen, who lives in Svenborg on the island of Fyn, is one of the women who has experienced harassment and bullying on the ships of the Danish company AP Møller-Maersk, better known as Maersk.
An American woman in her thirties, a former employee of a Maersk ship, has uncovered harassing and suggestive text messages she received from her boss. In addition, the 19-year-old American woman has written on her blog that she has been raped on one ship.
Maersk acknowledged the problem and took action
Due to harassment and rape, Maersk has fired five executives and began interviewing more than 350 women working at sea.
Maersk technical director Palle Laursen tells the Danish broadcaster DR that it cannot say how many incidents of harassment at sea have occurred. However, he admits that there are several.
– We acknowledge that the measures we have taken so far to prevent harassment have not been sufficient. Now we are going to invest even more to change the situation.
Danish Maritime Trade Union Lederne Søfart informs that it has been demanding an investigation into the harassment of various shipping companies for years. The association is pleased that with the Maersk uproar, the maritime industry and the Minister of Economic Affairs Simon Kollerup have begun to investigate the problems in the sector.
Last summer, Sophie Bach Simonsen wrote a four-page letter to Maersk’s management about everything she had experienced at sea. He received a response from the company and then met with the vice president Henriette Hallberg.
– We discussed the need for the company to initiate an investigation and consult with the ship’s employees. That’s really good, but I think the company should talk to other former employees as well. I think many have left the company just because of the bullying, Simonsen says.
Victims of harassment are suing the company
To date, at least two women have sued Maersk and accused the shipping company of failing to take responsibility and doing enough to prevent further rape and sexual harassment.
Sophie Bach Simonsen from Svenborg says she only wants to highlight problems that are constantly occurring – not just for women and not just for Maersk.
Ylelle Bach Simonsen says that after the media interviews, her former male colleagues have also told her that they have experienced inferior treatment.
The underwear of some female workers, on the other hand, was taken from general laundry baskets. A friend had told me that a foreman had locked him in a room and started touching him.
– I think this stems from the culture of the old generation that needs to be got rid of. No more harassment, bullying or racism, Simonsen says.
In Denmark, the debate on harassment, bullying or sexual exploitation, especially against women, has gradually emerged and spread, in fact, later than the #metoo movement in many other countries.
Improper use or fearful conduct has been reported in, for example, the Copenhagen City Council, within various parties and federations, and in media houses.
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