A new paradigm for seafarers

well-being
The Revd. Canon Ken Peters
Director of Justice & Welfare
The Mission to Seafarers

Maritime Labour Convention 2006
MtS Seminar
Australia
March 2010
The standard of safety of a ship is dependent
not only on the health of the ship but more on the
health of the seafarers in charge of the operation
of the ship. M Fuazudeen IMO


Without a happy and fit crew, existing in decent
working and living conditions, the shipping
industry will be unable to meet its requirements
for safer ships in clean waters. Bjorn Lden ICSW
Why a new convention?
Why a new convention?
1. Existing conventions are:-
Irrelevant to 21
st
century shipping
Too few ratification to enter into force
No provisions for enforcement

1. Stop the proliferation of unilateral legislation
Diminish the incidents of confliction laws
Reduce confusion
Introduction of level playing field
Harmonise jurisdictions

1. Maximise ratifications

1. Consolidation exercise one stop shop



MLC is intended to be the fourth pillar of
the international regulatory regime for quality
shipping alongside and complementing the
other key instruments,
the International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea, 1974 as amended (SOLAS),
the International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping,
1978 as amended (STCW) and
the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 73/78
(MARPOL),
Why a new convention?
MLC Overview
for shipowners it will provide the
proverbial level playing field that they
need in the competitive global
enterprise of shipping
for unions it will be a bill of rights
for maritime ministry practitioners it will
be a companion to the Holy Bible.
for seafarers it will provide international
protection against exploitation and
abuse.
Employment contracts
Repatriation rights
Crew accommodation
Medical care
Food and catering
Accident prevention
Social Security
Work hours
Sickness and injury benefits
Sea and shore based welfare facilities
Labour-supply
Flag State & Port State enforcement
MLC Overview : Substance
Title 1 Minimum requirements for
Seafarers to work on a ship.
Title 2 Conditions of employment.
Title 3 Accommodation, recreational
facilities, food and catering.
Title 4 Health protections, medical care,
welfare and social security
protection.
Title 5 Compliance and enforcement
The Regulations and the Code are organised
into general areas under five Titles:
MLC Substance
MLC Substance
Title 1 Minimum requirements for seafarers to
work on a ship
To ensure that no under-age persons work on a
ship
To ensure that all seafarers are medically fit to
perform their duties at sea
To ensure that seafarers are trained or qualified
to carry out their duties on board ship
To ensure that seafarers have access to an
efficient well regulated seafarers recruitment and
placement system
Title 2 Seafarers employment agreements
To ensure that seafarers
have a fair employment agreement
are paid for their services
have regulated hours of work and hours of rest
have adequate leave
are able to return home
are compensated when a ship is lost or has
foundered
work on board ships with sufficient personnel
for the safe, efficient and secure operation of
the ship and
To promote career and skill development and
employment opportunities for seafarers.
MLC Substance
Title 3 Accommodation, recreational
facilities, food and catering.
To ensure that seafarers have decent
accommodation and recreational facilities on
board
To ensure that seafarers have access to good
quality food and drinking water provided under
regulated hygienic conditions
MLC Substance
Title 4 Health protection, medical care, welfare and
social security protection.
To protect the health of seafarers and ensure their
prompt access to medical care on board ship and
ashore
And to ensure that
seafarers are protected from the financial
consequences of sickness, injury or death occurring
in connection with their employment
seafarers work environment on board ships promote
occupational safety and health
seafarers working on board a ship have access to
shore-based facilities and services to secure their
health and well-being
measures are taken with a view to providing seafarers
with access to social security protection
MLC Substance
Title 5 Compliance and enforcement

To ensure that each member implements its
responsibilities under this convention with respect to
ships that fly its flag
To enable each member to implement its
responsibilities under this convention regarding
international cooperation in the implementation and
enforcement of this convention standards on foreign
ships
To ensure that each member implements its
responsibilities under this convention pertaining to
seafarers recruitment and placement and the social
protection of seafarers.
MLC Substance
Significant departure from previous conventions in
both style and structure
Definition of seafarer Article 2
Definition of shipowner Article 2
Inclusion of fundamental human rights Article 3
Implementation and enforcement Article 5
Tacit amendment procedure Articles 14 & 15
Guidelines instead of recommendations
explanatory note to regulations
& code p12

What is unique about the MLC?
The Mission to Seafarers
St. Michael Paternoster Royal
College Hill
London EC4R 2RL
tel: +44 (0) 20 7248 5202
fax: +44 (0) 20 7248 4761
e-mail: justice@missiontoseafarers.org
web: www.missiontoseafarers.org