Maritime Labour Convention

Mauritius ratifies the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)

Mauritius is the 60th ILO Member State, and the 6th member State of the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, to ratify this Convention

News | 30 May 2014
Today, the Government of Mauritius deposited with the International Labour Office the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). Mauritius is the 60th ILO Member State, and the 6th member State of the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, to ratify this Convention. In addition to being a home of a fleet of over 113,000 gross tons, Mauritius is also a labour-supplying country to the world fleet, whose seafarers are trained at its Mauritius Maritime Training Academy established in 1970.

In depositing the instrument of ratification of the MLC, 2006, the Mauritian Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Shakeel Mohamed, stated: “I am depositing this instrument of ratification with confidence. The ratification is not a decision taken hastily, but is a result of all the groundwork undertaken in my country for the effective implementation of the Convention. The Ministries of Labour and of Shipping and the social partners have been sensitized and trained on the MLC, 2006, and have conducted preparatory work for ratification and implementation of the Convention, including the preparation of the implementing regulations, in collaboration with the ILO. Through this process, we have become convinced that the MLC, 2006 will not only provide effective protection for our seafarers, but also will ensure that our shipping industry will be competitive. This ratification strengthens our commitment for the effective implementation of the Convention.”

In receiving the instrument of ratification, Mr Guy Ryder, Secretary-General of the International Labour Conference said: “Mauritius and the Office have been working together on the MLC, 2006 since 2007 when Mauritius hosted the Tripartite National Seminar which adopted a plan of action on the Convention. Another tripartite training workshop was held very recently just this May. During this training, in addition to reviewing the provisions of the MLC, 2006, the participants reviewed draft amendments to existing legislation to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention, adopting recommendations for further follow-up. I am therefore particularly happy that all these steps taken have borne fruit and led to today’s registration of the instrument of ratification.”

The MLC, 2006 entered into force on 20 August 2013 for the first 30 member States whose ratifications were registered by 20 August 2012. The Convention will enter into force for Mauritius on 30 May 2015, that is, one year after its ratification. For more background information, please visit the dedicated MLC webpage at /mlc