Global shipping community reaffirms support for seafarers with groundbreaking
updates to ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention
- MLC updates agreed between Governments, shipowners and unions set to enter
into effect in 2027, after intense week of negotiations at the International Labour
Organization headquarters in Geneva. - Key amendments aim to improve the conditions for seafarers on board ships:
New provisions for seafarers to be designated as key workers; strengthened
requirements for seafarer repatriation; ensuring visa free shore leave; and
enhanced protections against bullying and harassment. - Recognising that seafarers are among most isolated people on earth when it
comes to medical care, ILO approved new MLC provisions recommending
carriage of ICS International Medical Guide for Seafarers and Fishers on board
ships.
Monday, 14 April, Geneva – The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) welcomes the
series of landmark updates to ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), following an
intense week of negotiations at the International Labour Organization (ILO)
headquarters in Geneva. Under ILO’s Special Tripartite Committee on the MLC,
governments, shipowners, and unions met from 7-11 April, to review and adopt crucial
updates that reflect the evolving needs of seafarers and the maritime industry.
Tim Springett, Chair of the ICS Labour Affairs Committee and Spokesperson for the
Shipowners’ Group at the ILO meeting, said: “I’ve been incredibly proud to represent
Shipowners at the ILO this year for the Fifth Meeting of the STC, to review and amend the
MLC. I’ve been lucky enough to have the support of such a strong team, and together we
have been able to deliver some significant improvements to seafarers’ rights in
collaboration with our government and social partners. The accomplishments of STC
prove that – whatever the issue facing our industry – when we come together, we can
work it out”.
Among the suite of amendments agreed to improve the working and living conditions of
seafarers on board ships were provisions for seafarers to be designated as key workers;
strengthened requirements to support seafarer repatriation; new mandatory measures
to ensure that they have access to shore leave without needing a visa or special permit;
and enhanced protections against bullying and harassment.
Helio Vicente, ICS Director of Employment Affairs, commented: “This has been a
successful and historic week of discussions. Working alongside national governments,
and transport workers unions, under the auspices of ILO, we have adopted potentially
transformational changes for seafarers and the industry. These developments
demonstrate our enduring commitment to improving the lives and working conditions of
seafarers around the world.”
Another notable development from last week’s session was the agreement for inclusion
of a new provision into the MLC, recommending the carriage of the ICS International
Medical Guide for Seafarers and Fishers on board ships, complementing an existing
requirement for all ships to carry a medical guide on board. The guide was developed
with support from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the
International Maritime Health Association (IMHA).
Ms. Corinne Vargha, Director of the International Labour Standards Department of the
ILO, added: “At a time when the spirit of multilateralism and the added value of tripartism are called into question, the STC demonstrated that tripartite dialogue and multilateralism work and deliver effective solutions to global challenges. The outstanding work
accomplished this week, in particular the amendments adopted to strengthen
protection against violence and harassment on board, the recognition of seafarers aas
key workers and access to shore leave will make a positive difference in the daily life of
seafarers and shipowners.”
The ILO maritime tripartite regulatory structure brings together national governments,
alongside a global shipowners group co-ordinated by ICS and a global seafarers group
co-ordinated by ITF.
The meeting also agreed a package of complementary resolutions, one of which
established a framework for a future joint meeting between the ILO tripartite partners
and Member States of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), to review and
potentially align overlapping seafarer hours of work and rest provisions, within the remit
of conventions overseen by both organisations.
