Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147) - Dominica (Ratification: 2004)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government has failed to submit a report on the application of the Convention for the eighth consecutive year. As the requested report was not received, the Committee examined the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal.

The Committee recalls that, in the context of the Standards Review Mechanism, in accordance with the recommendation of the Special Tripartite Committee (STC) established under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006), the ILO Governing Body classified Convention No. 147 as “outdated”. The STC decided to review the situation of this Convention at its sixth meeting in order to decide on its possible abrogation or withdrawal. At its 343rd Session (November 2021), the Governing Body placed an item concerning the abrogation of Conventions Nos 23, 55, 56, 58, 68, 92 and 134, all of which are included in the Appendix of Convention No. 147, on the agenda of the 118th Session (2030) of the International Labour Conference. In light of the above, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments regarding the eventual ratification of the MLC, 2006.

Article 2 of the Convention. Implementing legislation. The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not provided any information on the laws or regulations and other measures giving effect to the specific requirements of the Convention. The Committee therefore requests the Government once again to indicate in detail how each of the Articles of the Convention is applied in national law and practice, and explain in particular in what manner the provisions of the International Maritime Act, 2002, and of the Dominica Maritime Regulations, 2002, are substantially equivalent to the Conventions mentioned in the Appendix of the Convention relating to safety standards, social security measures and shipboard conditions of employment and shipboard living arrangements, as required under Article 2 of the Convention.

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