Maritime Labour Convention

Maritime Centenary Challenge: reaching 100 ratifications of the MLC, 2006

News | 23 January 2019
The MLC, 2006 consolidates almost all previous maritime instruments adopted throughout the century. It encapsulates and modernises the international experience in regulating decent living and working conditions for seafarers gained since 1920, when the 2nd session of the International Labour Conference adopted the first three conventions on these issues. Amended on three occasions since its entry into force in 2013 in order to keep up with the needs of the shipping sector, the Convention has now been ratified by 97 member States representing more than 91 % of the world merchant shipping fleet.

Ratifying and implementing the MLC, 2006 benefits all actors involved, namely, seafarers, shipowners, flag States, port States and labour supplying States. Ratification contributes not only to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth but also to SDG 14 on Sustainable Oceans. Indeed, since the human element has been identified as the main cause of accidents at sea, and decent working conditions are an important factor in preventing such accidents, ensuring the respect of seafarers’ fundamental rights and principles and well as their employment and social rights is critical for the achievement of safer shipping and cleaner oceans.




The international community is invited to further support the efforts to ensure decent work for the more than 1.5 million seafarers and a level playing field for shipowners.

Let’s celebrate the ILO Centenary with
100 ratifications of the MLC, 2006!