Seafarers 'Bill of Rights' In Force Today

Tuesday 20,  August 2013 is the date when the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, comes into force for ships flagged in those states that signed up to it exactly one year ago.

More states have since signed the convention, and the MLC will take effect for them one year on from the date they signed. Currently, 47 member states of the International Labour Organization (ILO) have signed up to the MLC, representing more than 75 percent of the world’s gross tonnage of ships.



The MLC sets out seafarers' rights covering:

    •    minimum age
    •    employment agreements
    •    hours of work or rest
    •    payment of wages
    •    paid annual leave
    •    repatriation at the end of contract
    •    onboard medical care
    •    the use of licensed private recruitment and placement services
    •    accommodation
    •    food and catering
    •    health and safety protection, and accident prevention
, seafarers’ complaint handling.

The ILO has issued a useful background guide to the MLC and what it means. This can be found at: http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/maritime-labour-convention/news/WCMS_219628/lang--en/index.htm