Support for labour Convention

Star Maritime 22 January 2007

The Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF) seafarers committee supports and will provide necessary assistance to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to promote the new Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
 
This was decided at the committee’s 12th interim meeting in Hong Kong last week.
 
The Convention, which was adopted at the 94th International Labour Conference (Maritime), is designed to encourage compliance by shipowners to strengthen enforcement of standards at all levels, including provisions onboard and onshore, complaints procedures for seafarers regarding the ship owners' supervision of conditions on their ships, the flag state's jurisdiction and control over the ship.
 
Generally, it also sets minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship and contains provisions on conditions of employment, hours of work and rest, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection.
 
In a press statement, the ASF committee appealed to ASF members to provide the necessary assistance to high-level tripartite missions when they visited their individual countries or regions.
 
The committee expressed its concern over the current and future development of Port State and Flag State guidelines for inspection in accordance with the Convention.
 
The committee also encouraged governments and other parties concerned to give their co-operation as soon as possible for the smooth and rapid implementation of the MLC.
 
It also expressed its concern about the slow progress on the ratification of Convention 185 that shore leave was becoming more difficult for seafarers transiting to and from vessels and felt that this would have a negative impact on seafarer retention.
 
The committee also encouraged governments to make full use of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)/ILO guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident and supports the creation of an effective mechanism to monitor any implementation of the guidelines and record any areas where revision might become necessary.
 
On other related issues, the statement stated that the committee noted that the negotiation on the employment conditions of international seafarers for 2008 onward would start this May during the 3rd International Bargaining Forum.
 
They reiterated the necessity to harmonize the voices of Asian to achieve stable employment and smooth supply of Asian seafarers.
 
The Asian Shipowners Forum consists of seven shipowners' associations in the Asian region – Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and the Federation of Asean Shipowner Associations.
 
Malaysia was represented by the Malaysian Shipowners Association (MASA).

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