The Government of Belgium deposited with the International Labor Office the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) on 20 August 2013, a highly symbolic day marking the entry into force of the Convention. Belgium becomes the 46th ILO Member State and the 19th European Union member to have ratified this historic agreement which constitutes the fourth pillar of the international maritime legal regime, complementing the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and providing decent working and living conditions for seafarers as well as conditions of fair competition for shipowners.