The Maritime Labour Convention
The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 consolidates and updates over 65 international labour standards related to seafarers adopted over the last 80, in order to secure the right of all seafarers to decent employment. It 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 (IMO).
It has two primary purposes:
• To bring the system of protection contained in existing labour standards closer to the workers concerned, in a form consistent with the rapidly developing globalised sector
• To improve the applicability of the system, so that shipowners and governments interested in providing decent conditions of work do not have to bear an unequal burden in ensuring protection.
The Convention was adopted in February 2006, with an almost unprecedented level of support, reflecting the lengthy tripartite consultation exercise and the unequivocal support of the government, employers and workers who have worked together to develop the Convention text. It is expected to achieve near universal ratification because of its blend of firmness on rights and flexibility with respect to implementation of the more technical requirements, and because of the advantages it gives to the ships of countries that ratify it.
The Convention will come into force once 30 MLC members (representing at least 33% of the world’s gross tonnage ratify it. This is expected to be in 2011.
The MLC and Superyachts
All superyachts will be included under MLC 2006 unless they are used entirely privately. It is possible that some vessels of less than 200 gross tons may be able to avoid regulations, but this will be down to the discretion of individual Flag States.
The MLC will lay down minimum standards for crew working on ships. Crew must be certified as medically fit and hold a current medical certificate. They must be certified as competent or be otherwise certified as competent. Crew can no longer be charged a fee by employment agencies. (Dohle Yacht Crew does not change fees to those seeking employment and our contacts are MLC compliant.)
There are additional regulations on accommodation which will affect new build superyachts. Full details may be found on the ILO’s website>>>