Seafarer's Congress Warned MLC Could be a 'Paper Tiger'

Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, of the International Labour Organisation doubted effectiveness of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.

Delegates at Apostleship of the Sea's 23rd international congress in the Vatican were told that the MLC 2006 was simply a tool that had to be used wisely. "But if not used or improperly used may be of little consequence - the so called 'paper tiger'; or it may even cause harm, if only because it is then very difficult to mobilize the political will to replace an international instrument.

The MLC, 2006, which will enter into force in August 2013, has so far been ratified by countries responsible for about 60 per cent of world shipping.
Dr Doumbia-Henry pointed out that the MLC, 2006 greatly relies on private, social or religious endeavors, such as Apostleship of the Sea, in ports where necessary seafarers' welfare facilities have not yet been established. However any governments failing to promote the development of welfare facilities would be in clear breach of its obligations under the MLC, 2006.

Therefore the adoption after five years of intensive international consultation of the major new instrument, covering all most every issue related to seafarers' working and living conditions and replacing 37 Conventions and related Recommendations, is only a starting point."

She added that the ILO is developing tools to assist in raising awareness of these issues and to advise governments on how to properly implement the requirements of the MLC, 2006 relating to welfare facilities and seafarers in foreign ports. "We hope that these tools will be useful to institutions like Stella Maris in promoting this issue with governments."