The ILO has received the 30th ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC), fulfilling the final condition for the first global standard spanning continents and oceans, to go into effect in a year’s time. The Pacific made a great contribution to this achievement with Australia, Kiribati, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands and Tuvalu all being amongst the first 30 countries to ratify, demonstrating the great importance of the maritime industry to this region. Importantly the 30 countries represent nearly 60 per cent of the world’s gross shipping tonnage, meaning that seafarers working on 60 per cent of the world’s international ships will be covered by the new Convention.

“This is great news for the world’s more than 1.2 million seafarers,” said ILO Director General Juan Somavia. “It was a dream of the ILO as early as 1920, and I pay tribute to the international maritime community for having made it a reality.” Somavia also described the achievement as remarkable as “Not only are these first 30 ratifications drawn from almost every region of the world, but the tonnage level is nearly double the required amount.” These views were echoed by International Transport Workers’ Federation President Paddy Crumlin who declared, “This means better conditions for the world’s 1.2 million seafarers and finally recognises their rights and fundamental standards for work in this often dangerous profession.”

The MLC establishes minimum requirements for almost all aspects of working conditions for seafarers including conditions of employment, hours of work and rest, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection. Each ratifying State is tasked with both certifying that ships flying its flag meet these ‘decent work’ requirements as well as inspecting ships visiting their ports for MLC compliance. There is also a mechanism which records seafarers’ complaints and a reporting mechanism which spots failures no matter where a ship travels.

 

In essence the Convention aims to achieve both decent work for seafarers and secure economic interests in fair competition for quality shipowners. As an estimated 90 per cent of world trade is carried on ships, seafarers are essential to international trade and the international economic and trade system.  This new labour standard consolidates and updates more than 68 international labour standards related to the maritime sector adopted over the last 80 years. The MLC has been designed to become a global instrument known as the "fourth pillar" of the international regulatory regime for quality shipping, complementing the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization.

 

The MLC will come into effect in August 2013. The ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries is working closely with its ratifying member States to facilitate the effective and timely implementation of this new Convention. For most countries the initial critical concern is ensuring maritime and labour laws and policies, fully apply the MLC. In 2013 the ILO will then work to build the capacity of ratifying member States to implement Port State controls. It will also be important to ensure that maritime training institutes and seafarers’ trade unions are fully cognisant of MLC requirements, so that these can be conveyed to their students and members respectively. The ILO remains available to fully support additional member States to ratify the MLC and to support other Pacific Island Countries to implement the Convention’s key principles.