THE INTERNATIONAL Chamber of Shipping has published a detailed overview of new amendments to the International Labour Organization Maritime Labour Convention.
This is the fourth edition of the ICS’ Guidelines on the Application of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, which provides updates to the shipping industry on its mandatory employment standards and best practices.
According to ICS, 2 million merchant seafarers are employed across the world. The shipping industry as the only industrial sector to have such a comprehensive global regime in place with standards strictly enforced by governments worldwide, through the flag-state inspection and port-state control systems.
ICS senior manager policy and employment affairs Helio Vicente said ICS has been a part of the ILO MLC since it came into force a decade ago.
“ICS is committed to helping shipping companies provide decent work for the seafarers they employ and the latest edition of this publication gives employers all the information they need about best practice and amendments which have been made to the convention since 2013,” he said.
“This includes vital updates in response to some of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic which were agreed by the ILO MLC in 2022.”
Mr Vicente said pursuing a career at sea is a fantastic choice with excellent employment conditions but it is important that we continue to improve the good employment practices and standards which are vital for the maritime industry to attract and retain the dedicated and high calibre workforce which the future of the industry will depend on.
he Guidelines on the Application of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention sets out the fundamental rights of seafarers and responsibilities of employers under the MLC.
It includes amendments from the ILO MLC 2022, which includes ensuring seafarers have appropriately sized personal protective equipment, particularly for the increasing number of women seafarers and that medical care for seafarers is provided for those in need of immediate assistance.
It also details that seafarers should be provided with appropriate social connectivity by shipowners and states providing internet access in their ports.
A key update following the Covid-19 pandemic, confirms seafarers as key workers with all three specialised UN agencies WHO, ILO and IMO, recognising that seafarer transit is fundamental to world trade. While shipping companies must make efforts to prevent the spread of disease, seafarers must be treated as a different category of worker and given the right support to help continue to trade.
