The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)  was adopted in Geneva in 2006 and entered into force  on 20 August 2013. The convention is the fourth pillar  of international maritime law, along with SOLAS, STCW  and MARPOL. So far, 60 member states of ILO have  ratified the convention, and collectively they have  approximately 80 per cent of the world’s gross tonnage.
The convention establishes minimum requirements  regarding working and living conditions for seafarers.
It is divided into five sub-categories:
 Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship
 Conditions of employment
 Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and
catering
 Health protection, medical care, welfare and social
security protection
 Compliance and enforcement
Commercial vessels of 500 GT, and above and which trade internationally, are required to carry a certificate,  as imposed by the convention. These vessels have to carry specific documents such as the Maritime Labour  Certificate (MLC) and a Declaration of Maritime Labour  Compliance (DMLC) to show that the ships are in  compliance with the requirements of the convention.Â
The consequences of non-compliance with MLC, 2006Â are evident from the number of inspections and
detentions being recorded which have been authorised by port state controls (PSC) regarding deficiencies  related to MLC, 2006.
DNV GL carried out an analysis of MLC, 2006-related  deficiencies found by PSC during the first year of the convention’s enforcement. This analysis revealed that 160 ships were detained as a result of serious
deficiencies being recorded.
The most common grounds for detention were:
 Records of rest (STCW)
 Seafarers’ Employment Agreement (SEA)
 Fitness for duty – work and rest hours
 Manning specified by the minimum safe manning
document (STCW)
 Wages
Most MLC, 2006-related detentions in the Tokyo MoUÂ have been in Australia and China, representing
approximately 60 per cent of MLC, 2006-related  detentions in the region. In the Paris MoU, most MLC,  2006-related detentions have been in Spain, Russia  and Bulgaria, representing 40 per cent of MLC, 2006- related detentions in the region.
Recently, AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority)  stopped a vessel from entering any Australian port for three months due to repeated breaches related to the  seafarers’ welfare and the maintenance of the vessel.
The vessel in question had been detained three times  since July 2013. During these inspections, AMSA
detected incompliances with MLC, 2006 related to  improper payment of wages, inadequate living and
working conditions and inadequate maintenance of the  vessel.
With the ongoing CIC on hours of rest (STCW), it is  expected that more MLC, 2006-related deficiencies will  be detected. We therefore urge ship managers to pay proper attention to seafarers’ welfare. It is just as  important as the proper maintenance of ship  equipment, and an integral part of safe operations.
