The term "MLC" primarily refers to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 , an international treaty established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to set minimum standards for the working and living conditions of seafarers worldwide
What is the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC)?
- The MLC was adopted in 2006 and entered into force on August 20, 2013
- It consolidates and updates 68 previous maritime labour conventions and recommendations into a single comprehensive instrument
- The convention is often called the "seafarers’ Bill of Rights" because it guarantees decent conditions of work for seafarers
- It applies to nearly all commercial seagoing vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more, excluding fishing vessels, warships, and traditional vessels like dhows and junks
- The MLC sets standards in five main areas:
- Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on vessels
- Conditions of employment
- Accommodation, recreational facilities, food, and catering
- Health protection, medical care, welfare, and social security protection
- Compliance and enforcement
Key Features and Rights under the MLC
- It ensures seafarers have rights such as freedom of association, collective bargaining, elimination of forced labour and child labour, and non-discrimination in employment
- It provides seafarers with a safe and secure workplace, fair employment terms, decent living conditions, and access to medical care and welfare
- Ships of 500 GT or above must have a maritime labour certificate and a declaration of maritime labour compliance issued by their flag state, which port states can inspect for compliance
- The convention enforces a "no more favourable treatment" clause, meaning ships from non-ratifying states cannot gain advantages over those from ratifying states when entering ports of signatory countries
- Ratifying countries incorporate the MLC standards into their national laws, collective agreements, or other measures, and inspect ships under their flag and those entering their ports
International Impact
- The MLC is considered the fourth pillar of international maritime law alongside SOLAS (safety), STCW (training), and MARPOL (pollution prevention)
- As of 2021, over 97 countries representing more than 97% of the world’s shipping tonnage have ratified the convention, making it widely effective globally
In summary, the MLC is a comprehensive international legal framework that protects seafarers’ rights and ensures decent working and living conditions on commercial ships worldwide
