IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has today (20th August) welcomed the entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a sister UN agency to IMO.
"The entry into force of the MLC convention marks significant progress in the recognition of seafarers' roles and the need to safeguard their well-being and their working conditions. This is a truly important landmark for seafarers; and for shipping, on which the global economy relies," Sekimizu said.
The MLC treaty, which has been ratified by 48 countries, aims to achieve decent work for the world's seafarers and secure economic interests in fair competition for quality shipowners.
The MLC is considered the `fourth pillar' of the most important maritime regulations covering international shipping, complementing three major conventions adopted by IMO: the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL); and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
These three IMO treaties were first adopted in the 1970s and have each been ratified by more than 150 countries, representing more than 99% of world merchant shipping.
In addition, the maritime professionals' union Nautilus International has welcomed the entry of the MLC 2006.
The union believes the MLC is a milestone in the struggle to provide decent living and working conditions to the international shipping industry and hopes it will mark a turning point for members and seafarers the world over.
"The convention should help to combat the worst excesses of exploitation and abuse in the shipping industry, by establishing a decency threshold below which no shipowner can operate," said Mark Dickinson, general secretary, Nautilus International.
Elsewhere, the Isle of Man Ship Registry has announced that it has been included in the UK's adoption of MLC 2006.
Dick Welsh, Director of the Isle of Man Ship Registry said: "This concludes a long process and is a very important milestone for the Isle of Man. It demonstrates our commitment to the International Labour Organisation and ensures that seafarers receive fair treatment, pay and conditions.
"It also helps maintain the Register's status as among the most highly rated and respected in the world for the quality of its fleet.
"The ship registry team and our counterparts in the UK have worked closely together to make sure the Convention extended to the Isle of Man before its entry into force and I am pleased that they have managed to achieve this," he concluded.
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