Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) - Maldives (Ratification: 2014)

Follow-up to the conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards (International Labour Conference, 109th Session, June 2021)

The Committee recalls that in 2020, in the framework of the procedure of “urgent appeal”, it examined the implementation of the Convention by the Maldives on the basis of publicly available information given that the Government had failed to submit a first report for four consecutive years. The Committee welcomes the Government's first report which was submitted during the June 2021 session of the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards (hereinafter, the Conference Committee). The Committee notes the discussion, which took place during the same session of the Conference Committee concerning the application of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006) by the Maldives. It notes that the Conference Committee recalled the critical importance of effective national implementation of the Convention and the need for ratifying Member States to ensure they meet their regular reporting obligations. The Conference Committee urged the Government to take all necessary measures, in consultation with the social partners, to: (i) ensure full compliance of its law and practice with the MLC, 2006; (ii) provide full information regarding the application in law and in practice of the MLC, 2006; and (iii) fully comply with its reporting obligations. The Conference Committee requested the Government to avail itself of the ILO technical assistance to effectively implement these conclusions. The Committee notes that a representative of the Government participated in a course offered by the ILO Training Centre on reporting on International Labour Standards, which led to the finalization of the report on the MLC, 2006. It further notes that, after the International Labour Conference, a number of exchanges and a follow-up meeting took place between the Office and the Government and that discussions are taking place concerning the most appropriate way to provide technical assistance. The Committee hopes that the Government will avail itself of the Office’s technical assistance to address the numerous issues still pending towards a full implementation of the Convention.

Article I of the Convention. General questions on application. Implementing measures. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to adopt without delay the necessary measures to give effect to the provisions of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s information that Marine Circular Number INT-2013/003 dated 20 August 2013 (hereinafter, Marine Circular INT-2013/003) seeks to implement the MLC, 2006 in the Maldives. The Committee notes that, while the Circular covers some of the matters enshrined in the MLC, 2006, it had been adopted before the ratification of the Convention for the purpose of the voluntary inspection and certification of the Maldivian-flagged ships for compliance with the MLC, 2006. The Committee recalls that under Article I of the Convention, each Member which ratifies the Convention undertakes to give complete effect to its provisions in the manner set out in Article VI in order to secure the right of all seafarers to decent employment. The Committee requests the Government to clarify the legal value of Marine Circular INT-2013/003 and to revise its text in view of the ratification and entry into force of the MLC, 2006 for the Maldives. The Committee further requests the Government to adopt the necessary measures to give effect to all the provisions of the Convention.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

[The Government is asked to reply in full to the present comments in 2024.]