WhatisMLC?MaritimeLabourConvention,knownas“MLC,2006”isaninternationalagreementoftheInternationalLabourOrganisation(‘ILO’)whichsetsoutseafarers’rightstodecentconditionsofwork.Itissometimescalledtheseafarers’BillofRights.AsofAugust2021,theconventionhasbeenratifiedby97statesrepresentingover91percentofglobalshipping.WhatisthemainobjectiveoftheMLCConvention?ThisConventionshowshowtripartitedialogueandinternationalcooperationcancombineconstructivelyforthemostglobalizedofindustriestoconcretelyaddressthechallengestosecuringdecentworkingandlivingconditionsforseafarers,whilesimultaneouslyhelpingtoensurefaircompetitionforshipownersIntroductiontoMLCTheconventionconsistsofthesixteenarticlescontaininggeneralprovisionsaswellastheCode.TheCodeconsistsoffivetitlesinwhichspecificprovisionsaregroupedbystandard:ContentandorganizationofMLCConventionTitle1:MinimumrequirementsforseafarerstoworkonashipTitle2:ConditionsofemploymentTitle3:Accommodation,recreationalfacilities,foodandcateringTitle4:Healthprotection,medicalcare,welfareandsocialsecurityprotectionTitle5:ComplianceandenforcementForeachTitle,therearegeneralRegulations,whicharefurtherspecifiedinmandatoryStandards(listA)aswellasGuidelines(ListB).RegulationsandStandardsshouldinprinciplebeimplementedfully,butacountrycanimplementa"substantiallyequivalent"regulation,whichitshoulddeclareuponratification.IntroductiontoMLCMedicalcareonboardshipandashore:Seafarersshouldbecoveredforandhaveaccesstomedicalcarewhileonboard;inprincipleatnocostandofaqualitycomparabletothestandardsofhealthcareonshore.Countriesthroughwhichterritoryashipispassingshouldguaranteetreatmentonshoreinseriouscases.Shipowners'liability:Seafarersshouldbeprotectedfromthefinancialeffectsof"sickness,injuryordeathoccurringinconnectionwiththeiremployment".Thisincludesatleast16weeksofpaymentofwagesafterstartofsickness.Healthandsafetyprotectionandaccidentprevention:Asafeandhygienicenvironmentshouldbeprovidedtoseafarersbothduringworkingandrestinghoursandmeasuresshouldbetakentotakereasonablesafetymeasures.Accesstoshore-basedwelfarefacilities:Portstatesshouldprovide"welfare,cultural,recreationalandinformationfacilitiesandservices"andtoprovideeasyaccesstotheseservices.Theaccesstothesefacilitiesshouldbeopentoallseafarersirrespectiveofrace,sex,religionorpoliticalopinion.Socialsecurity:Socialsecuritycoverageshouldbeavailabletoseafarers(andincaseitiscustomaryintheflagstate:theirrelatives).Title4:Healthprotection,medicalcare,welfareandsocialsecurityProtectionIntroductiontoMLCFlagstates:Flagstates(thestateunderwhichflagtheshipoperates)areresponsibleforensuringimplementationoftherulesontheshipsthatflyitsflag.Detailedinspectionsresultintheissueofa"CertificateofMaritimeCompliance",whichshouldalwaysbepresent(andvalid)onaship.Shipsarerequiredtohavedecentcomplaintsproceduresinplaceforitscrewandshouldinstituteinvestigationsincaseofcasualties.Portstates:TheinspectioninportsdependsonwhetheraCertificateofMaritimeComplianceispresent(andthusaflagisflownofacountrywhichhasratifiedtheconvention).IftheCertificateispresent,complianceistobeassumedinprinciple,andfurtherinvestigationsonlytakeplaceifthecertificateisnotinorderorthereareindicationsofnon-compliance.Forshipsthatdonothavethecertificate,inspectionsaremuchmoredetailedandshouldensure,accordingtoa"nomorefavorabletreatmentprinciple",[7]thattheshiphascompliedwiththeprovisionsoftheconvention.Theconventionisthusindirectlyalsovalidforshipsofnon-membercountriesiftheyplantocalltoportsofamemberstate.Labouragencies:Agenciessupplyingonmaritimeworkerstoshipsshouldalsobeinspectedtoensurethattheyapplytheconvention(amongotherstheregulationsregardingtosocialsecurity).Title5:ComplianceandenforcementIntroductiontoMLCMinimumagerequirements:theminimumageis16years(18fornightworkandworkinhazardousareas).Medicalfitness:workersshouldbemedicallyfitforthedutiestheyareperforming.CountriesshouldissuemedicalcertificatesasdefinedintheSTCW(oruseasimilarstandard).Training:Seafarersshouldbetrainedfortheirdutiesaswellashavehadapersonalsafetytraining.Recruitment/placementserviceslocatedinmemberstatesorforshipsflyingtheflagofmemberstatesshouldhave(amongothers)properplacementprocedures,registration,complaintproceduresandcompensationiftherecruitmentfails.Title1:MinimumrequirementsforseafarerstoworkonashipLesson1MinimumRequirementsforSeafarerstoWorkonaShipContracts:thecontractshouldbeclear,legallyenforceableandincorporatecollectivebargainingagreements(ifexistent).Payments:Wagesshouldbepaidatleasteverymonth,andshouldbetransferableregularlytofamilyifsodesired.Leave:Seafarershavearighttoannualleaveaswellasshoreleave.Repatriation:Returningtotheircountryofresidenceshouldbefree.Loss:Ifashipislostorfoundered,theseafarershavearighttoanunemploymentpayments.Manning:Everyshipshouldhaveasufficientmanninglevel.Developmentandopportunities:Everyseafarerhasarighttobepromotedduringhiscareerexceptincaseswherethereisaviolationofastatuteorcodeofconduct,whichinevitablyhinderssuchpromotion.Also,skilldevelopmentandemploymentopportunitiesshouldbemadeavailableforeachandeveryseafarer.

Title2:EmploymentconditionsLesson2HoursofWorkandHoursofRestLesson2HoursofWorkandHoursofRestThemaximumhoursofworkinthatlegislationshouldnotexceed14hoursinany24-hourperiodand72hoursinanyseven-dayperiod,or:atleasttenhoursofrestinany24-hourperiodand77hours(rest)inanyseven-dayperiod.Furthermore,thedailyhoursofrestmaynotbedividedintomorethantwoperiodsand,atleastsixhoursofrestshouldbegivenconsecutivelyinoneofthosetwoperiods.MLC2006Regulation2.3-MandatoryHoursofWorkandHoursofRestforSeafarersRequirementstoEnsurethatSeafarershaveRegulatedHoursofWorkorHoursofRestHoursofworkandrestareregulatedtoavoidfatigueandtoensurethattheshipisoperatedsafely.Normalworkinghoursarebasedonaneight-hourdaywithonedayofrestperweek.TheflagStatecandecidewhethertobasethelimitsonmaximumhoursofworkorminimumhoursofrest.Intheeventofanemergencywherethesafetyoftheshipandcrewareindanger,ortogiveassistancetoothershipsorpersonsindistressatsea,theCaptaincansuspendtheworkscheduleuntiltheproblemisresolved.Ifnormalworkinghoursaredisruptedbyemergenciesorunscheduledcall-outsyouareentitledtoanadequatecompensatoryrestperiod.Lesson3EmploymentAgreementofSeafarersWhatisaSeafarersEmploymentAgreement/Contract?Foralmostallaspectsoftheworkingcircumstancesofseamen,MLCstipulatesminimumrequirements–infact,a‘LawofRights.’Consequently,everyseamanoperatingonacommercialboatmustnowobtainaFlagStateSeafarerEmploymentAgreement(SEA).TheMLC,inparticular,requiresthateachflagStateshouldhave,intermsofcrewemployment,aproperlyrecordedandlegallyenforceablecontractforeachcrewmemberratherthanagenericcrewagreement.TheSeafarerEmploymentAgreement(SEA)isacontractbetweenasinglecrewmanandthevessel’sowner,agent,orfirm.Becausemanyboatsareownedbyabusinessandmanagedbyamanagementfirm,theownerhaslimitedinvolvementinthevessel’sadministration.Thecontractmustbewrittenintheseafarer’snativelanguage.IfitisnotEnglish,atranslatedEnglishcopymustbekeptonboardtheship.TheSEAmustbesignedbyboththecrewmemberandthevessel’semployer,andacopymustberetainedbythecrewmemberaswellasacopyonboardthevessel.MLC2006Regulation2.1-Seafarers'EmploymentAgreements(Summary)Youareentitledtoafairemploymentagreementorcontractsettingoutdecentlivingandworkingconditionsonboard.Itmustbesignedbyyouandyouremployer,beeasytounderstandandlegallyenforceable.Ontheemployer’sside,itcanbesignedbytheshipowner,theshipownersrepresentative,theshipmanager,agentorbareboatcharterer.Ifitisnottheowneroftheship,itmustbetheorganizationorpersonthathastakenoverthedutiesandresponsibilitiesforoperatingtheship.Youmustreceiveandkeepasignedoriginaloftheagreement,acopyofwhichmustalsobeavailableonboard.Makesureyoufullyunderstandyourrightsandresponsibilities.Youhavetherighttoseekadvicebeforeyousign.ApplicableCBAsarenormallyincorporatedintheemploymentagreement.Allinformationonthetermsandconditionsofemployment,includingtheCBA,mustbefreelyaccessibletoeveryoneonboardandavailableforinspectioninport.Inadditiontotheemploymentagreement,youmustreceivearecordofyouremploymentordischargebook-thiswillhelpyouwhenseekinganotherjobormakingacaseforpromotion.Thisrecordmustnotincludereferencetoperformanceordisciplineissuesitissimplyadocumentofyourservice.Lesson3EmploymentAgreementofSeafarersWhataretheessentialclausesinaSeafarersEmploymentAgreement/Contract?Allseagoingshipsmusthaveaformeremployer/shipowneremploymentagreement.TheSeafarersemploymentagreementshouldincludethefollowing:Thecompletenameofthemariner,dateofbirth,age,andplaceofbirthNameandaddressoftheshipownerThedesignation/rankoft