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

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003, as amended (No. 185) - Myanmar (Ratification: 2018)

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Article 1 of the Convention. Definition of the term “seafarer “. The Committee refers to its comments under Article II of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006).

Articles 2 to 5. Seafarers’ identity documents.Implementation. In reply to its previous comment, the Committee welcomes the Government’s indication that seafarers’ identity documents (SIDs) compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) document 9303 have been issued for Myanmar seafarers since August 2019. The Government further indicates that the independent evaluation required by the Convention will be included and carried out in the context of the periodic evaluation of the Quality Management System established in relation to the new SID. The Committee further notes that the Government has submitted a specimen of the new SID. The Committee observes that the eye-readable data required on the SID is compliant with the requirements of the Convention. However, as the SID does not contain a photograph nor a signature and the machine-readable zone is empty, it is therefore not possible to assess the operation of the document in relation to ICAO Document 9303. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to submit a fully personalized sample SID and to provide detailed information on the procedures adopted for setting up and operating a national electronic database.

Article 6. Facilitation of shore leave and transit and transfer of seafarers. In reply to its previous comment, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that: (1) Myanmar has undertaken to allow the seafarers to go ashore, to facilitate travel and boarding or departure from the ship; (2) during the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign seafarers were allowed to disembark for repatriation to their home countries; and (3) relevant national laws and regulations do not cover the requirements of this provision of the Convention, thus it endeavors to develop necessary legislation to that end. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to provide information on any developments regarding the adoption of laws or regulations to give effect to Article 6.