Convention will improve working and living conditions for ship workers making the maritime sector more socially responsible
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today (Tuesday 22nd July 2014) announced the ratification by Ireland of the Maritime Labour Convention, which sets standards for working and living conditions for seafarers.
This means that from 21st July 2015, Ireland will be a party to the Convention and will implement the requirements contained therein, both for Irish-flagged ships and for international ships calling at Irish ports.
In the meantime, work is progressing on the inspection and certification of Irish ships in preparation for entry into force of the Convention for Ireland. A Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance – Part I has been issued to all Irish-flagged vessels of 500 Gross Tonnage or more which operate internationally, and ship owners have completed a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance – Part II. Work is also underway on preparing for port State control inspections for foreign-flagged ships in Ireland when the Convention enters into force here.
Minister Donohoe said: ‘I am delighted that Ireland has now ratified this Convention, which underlines our commitment to maritime safety and to improved living and working conditions for seafarers. Implementation of the Convention will improve Ireland’s international maritime reputation, as well as ensuring that seafarers enjoy better conditions, and that the shipping sector generally becomes a more secure and socially responsible sector’.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, whose Department has overall responsibility for ILO matters, also welcomed the ratification, saying: ‘I am very happy to welcome the ratification of this important international labour standard. This Convention will improve working and living conditions for workers on board ships and should lead to more secure, better-protected and responsible maritime employment. Ireland is fully behind the ILO’s efforts to define international labour standards in this important sector’.
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Notes for Editors
1. The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) was adopted at the 94th International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Maritime Conference, on 23rd February 2006 in Geneva. The Convention sets the standards for working and living conditions for seafarers.
2. Ireland was represented at the Conference by a tripartite delegation consisting of Government officials, nominees of the employers (IBEC) and of the workers (ICTU). This tripartite group played an active role in developing the Convention and fully supports the measures it contains.
3. MLC entered into force on the 20th August 2013 for members who have ratified the Convention, and it will enter into force for Ireland on 21 July 2015, i.e.12 months after the date our ratification was registered with the ILO.
4. The Convention applies to all seagoing ships which are ordinarily engaged in maritime operations, other than fishing vessels and naval warships. States which are party to the Convention apply its provisions to ships of their own flags, and to ships of other flags visiting their ports.
5. Ireland, along with other ILO Member States must bring the Convention into force via national legislation. The Convention will be implemented through a package of national legislation under the Merchant Shipping Acts. A number of Regulations are already made, and work is ongoing in relation to the remainder of the package of Regulations.
6. The Marine Survey Office (MSO) of the Irish Maritime Administration (IMA) has been designated as the competent authority for the implementation of the Convention.
7. The Convention consolidates and updates over 60 maritime labour instruments adopted by the ILO since 1920. While many aspects of the Convention are already set out in previous ILO Conventions such as ILO 147, there are some new requirements under MLC 2006, such as the requirement that every seafarer has an employment agreement, and the requirement that ship owners complete a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance – Part II (with Part I being completed by the competent authority). The Convention therefore, while it introduces some new requirements, mainly involves the updating of existing rights afforded to seafarers under previous ILO Conventions.
8. Under the Convention, only vessels of 500 GT or over which operate internationally are subject to certification inspections. In preparation for entry into force of the Convention for Ireland, a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance – Part I has been issued to all Irish-flagged vessels of 500 Gross Tonnage or more which operate internationally. Ship owners have completed a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance – Part II.
9. Recognised Organisations have been appointed for the purpose of carrying out MLC certification inspections, and they have issued, where inspections have been completed, a Statement of Compliance with the MLC. MLC Certificates will be issued, once the MLC enters into force for Ireland.