The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have jointly released new Guidelines for implementing the Welfare Aspects of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
Adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2006, the MLC aims to ensure comprehensive worldwide protection and enforcement of the rights of seafarers and to establish a level playing field for ILO Member States and ship-owners committed to providing decent working and living conditions for seafarers.
ICS and ITF emphasize that a number of countries with highly developed arrangements for providing seafarer welfare services and facilities are not yet signatories to the MLC, while many seafarer supply countries have also not yet developed welfare organizations to provide services or facilities for seafarers either at home or abroad.
The new complementary publication is intended to assist governments and welfare agencies in drafting their own guidelines for implementing the welfare provisions of the MLC or in adapting the new Guidelines to complement their current practices.
ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton said, “Seafarers are separated from their families and communities for long periods of time and remain on board ships with very limited time ashore. They therefore require adequate services at sea and in ports where different national, cultural and political experiences can create challenges.”
The new Guidelines, which can be downloaded from the ICS and ITF websites free of charge, are currently being distributed throughout the global shipping industry via ICS national shipowners’ associations and ITF union affiliates.
As representatives of shipowners and seafarers respectively, ICS and ITF have previously teamed up to promote initiatives of mutual benefit. In 2016, both organizations joined forces to publish the international Guidance on Eliminating Shipboard Harassment and Bullying, which can also be downloaded from the ICS and ITF websites free of charge.
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) is an international agreement of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which sets out seafarers’ rights to decent conditions of work. It is sometimes called the seafarers’ Bill of Rights. It applies to all seafarers, including those with jobs in hotel and other passenger services on cruise ships and commercial yachts. In 2013 the MLC became binding law for 30 countries. As of July 2017, a total of 84 countries had ratified the MLC 2006, which has resulted in more than 90% of the world’s shipping fleet being regulated. For the latest updates please visit the ILO website.
The MLC 2006 sets minimum requirements for nearly every aspect of working and living conditions for seafarers including recruitment and placement practices, conditions of employment, hours of work and rest, repatriation, annual leave, payment of wages, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, occupational safety and health, medical care, onshore welfare services and social protection.