Labour Convention 2006 Essay

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The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) is an international labour Convention adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). It contains a set of standards that can be applied globally and consolidates all of the existing conventions except four (Seafarers' Identity documents of 2003 (Convention No. 185), 1958 Convention (Convention No. 108), Seafarers' Pension Convention, 1946 (No. 71) and the Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers) Convention, 1921 (No. 15).
It aims to improve labour conditions for seafarers around the world by establishing standard rights for all seafarers while also protecting the economic interests of ship owners (MLC 2006). It provides the basic global standards, and each country is at discretion to formulate laws that establish the level of protection.
The MLC, 2006 also known as the seafarers’ bill of rights, was adopted by representatives of government, employers and workers at a special ILO forum in February 2006. The MLC went into force in August 2013, which is 7 years since it was developed. This was done to ensure that it brought real change into the maritime industry. Time was also needed for consultations and capacity building hence it was expected to take five years to be ratified by the minimum required number of 30 member states with a gross tonnage of ships of at least 33%. The concern was to ensure that that the Convention had the strong backing of the maritime sector – especially flag States - before it went into force (ILO, 2013).
2. Purpose of the convention
The convention aims both to broadly safeguard the rights of seafarers and to protect economic interests for ship owners through fair competition. It is also a guide for maritime labour rights and global governance in genera...

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...easonable/fair conditions of employment, decent living and working conditions while on board, health care, health protection, social security and welfare services. It also protects the economic interests of ship owners through fair competition by providing a level playing field for ship owners who are committed to providing decent living and working conditions for seafarers.
Promotion of seafarers rights coupled with international co-operation is likely to boost international trade and competition among ship owners. Commitment from governments and ship owners is critical in ensuring effective and successful implementation of the convention in order to achieve its goals. It was anticipated that as the MLC 2006 was being ratified by countries, the conventions which were in existence would be slowly phased out to pave way for the implementation of the new convention.

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