UK RATIFIES MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION (MLC)

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) has been ratified by the UK.

This new International Labour Organization (ILO) convention consolidates and updates more than 68 international labour standards in the maritime sector.  It sets minimum global standards for seafarers living and working conditions. It also reflects the valuable contribution of the ILO to global employment standards

The ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention has been a lengthy process that involved a number of Government departments including DWP, FCO and BIS alongside extensive contributions from the UK Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International, the RMT union and other stakeholders. It presented us with the opportunity to update legislation.

The UK has 1,383 vessels on its register totalling 16.57 million gross tonnage. There are approximately 89,000 seafarers working on UK flagged ships and more than 24,100 UK nationals work as seafarers.
 
The UK’s adoption has been extended to include the Isle of Man and Gibraltar.

Stephen Hammond MP, UK Minister for Shipping, said:

"I am pleased to adopt this convention. This will ensure that there are globally agreed standards for seafarers and their right to decent working conditions. It will also provide clarity of regulatory approach and remove obstacles to regional trade.

“It also ensures a level playing field for the UK merchant fleet because the Convention will require ships registered in other states to meet internationally agreed standards.”


ENDS
 
Notes to Editors
 
  1. The ILO's Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 provides comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers. The Convention aims to achieve both decent work for seafarers and secure economic interests in fair competition for quality shipowners. The new labour standard consolidates and updates more than 68 international labour standards related to the Maritime sector produced over the last 80 years. For further information, click here: http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/maritime-labour-convention/lang--en/index.htm

  1. Ratification is a formal undertaking by a country to be bound by the terms of the Convention. The UK does not ratify Conventions until legislation is prepared so that we are sure we will be able to meet our international obligations under the Convention.

  1. You can follow the MCA on Twitter. Find us at MCA_media.

  1. You can follow the UK mission to the United Nations on Twitter @UKMissionGeneva or by visiting the website ukmissiongeneva.fco.gov.uk

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