ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention: Amendments to Improve Seafarer Working and Living Conditions

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.

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.

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 2Medical 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 theInternational Maritime Health Association (IMHA).

The ILO maritime tripartite regulatory structure