Nigeria kicks off MLC 2006 implementation

2014-06-20

The Nigeria Maritime Safety and Administration Agency (NIMASA) has begun implementing the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006).

“The ratification of the MLC 2006 is a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment towards ensuring seafarers rights as it concerns their living and working conditions in a decent environment," said NIMASA director general Patrick Akpobolokemi. “The main objective of this convention is to ensure compliance and enforcement so as to achieve the implementation at both flag state and port state control levels.

“It is through the support of ILO that 25 NIMASA labour inspectors were trained. We will also benefit through technical co-operation with other ILO members.”

Nigeria, which is among the 61 nations to have ratified MLC 2006 first signed in June 2013, is one of several West African countries to benefit from recent capacity building initiatives by the EU, IMO and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) as well as a number of major investments from CMA CGM and ICTSI.

Crew welfare gained crucial traction recently when a meeting of the International Labour Conference (ILC) voted in favour of amendments to MLC 2006 covering crew abandonment and compensation for seafarers killed or disabled and their families. The development was said to be a “major step” in establishing a binding international law, according to a statement by the ILO.

Source from : Seatrade Global

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