New Maritime Labour Convention: new golden era or false dawn?

2013-08-21

The coming into force of the new Maritime Labour Convention 2006 on the 20th August is a critical moment for shipping to ‘up its game’ says seafarers’ charity.

The seafarers’ charity, Apostleship of the Sea, warmly welcomes the coming into force of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) on 20 August 2013. It hopes the shipping industry will seize this once in a generation opportunity to improve its image and practices.

Last year, at the Apostleship of the Sea World Congress, Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, International Director of Labour Standards at the International Labour Organisation said, “the adoption after five years of intensive international consultation of this major new instrument, covering almost every issue related to seafarers' working and living conditions and replacing 37 Conventions and related recommendations, is only a starting point.”

Dr Doumbia-Henry also pointed out that the MLC greatly relies on private, social or religious endeavours, such as the Apostleship of the Sea, in ports where necessary seafarers' welfare facilities are inadequate or have yet to be established. Any government that fails to promote the development of welfare facilities in its ports would be in clear breach of its obligations under the MLC.

Martin Foley, Apostleship of the Sea National Director, said, “We are hopeful, yet cautious, that the MLC will lead to an improvement in seafarers’ welfare across the world. All too often our port chaplains and volunteer ship visitors encounter cases of abandonment, non payment of wages and other abuses that we hope this convention will help eradicate. Now that the MLC has come into force, effective enforcement of its provisions is critical if this welcome ‘Bill of Rights’ for seafarers is to make a practical difference to their lives.”

The Apostleship of the Sea undertakes the majority of ship welfare visiting in the UK and is also present in nearly 300 ports around the world.

Source from : The Apostleship of the Sea, AoS

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