What does the coming into force of the Maritime Labour Convention (2006) mean for maritime workers?

The new Maritime Labour Convention (2006) makes a decisive contribution to improving the overall security of seafarers and, more specifically, living and working conditions on board.

In addition, fundamental rights such as non-discrimination in recruitment and the abolition of child labour are firmly guaranteed.

How is this monitored?

By inspectors, who themselves benefit from the Maritime Labour Convention (2006) coming into force. Naturally, we are talking about both the inspectors responsible for certifying their own country’s ships and those responsible for checking foreign ships. Both categories will be able to use a single, organic instrument. The main advantage will be to harmonize procedures for safeguarding seafarers on all kinds of ships, whatever flag they fly.

And what is the advantage for ship owners?

The need to certify the ship, a stipulation of the Convention, allows the ship to demonstrate that it has a crew-management system in line with the international principles of the sector, witnessed by the flag it flies. This means that they will be under less pressure from inspectors abroad, who, obviously, need to focus mainly on ships that are, or seem likely to be, below standard, such as those that are not certified because they fly the flag of a non-signatory State.