Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006

News: The war in West Asia is throwing light on the risks faced by commercial sailors, especially Indians, in spite of being covered under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.

About Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006

• The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) is an International Labour Organization convention.
• It was established in 2006.
• It came into force on 20 August 2013.
• It is a binding international law.
• It sets out in one place minimum requirements for how a seafarer should be treated.
  • Many states that ratify the Convention may have higher standards.
• Need: It was introduced in recognition that the global nature of the shipping industry means that seafarers need special protection, especially since you can be exempted from national labour laws.
• The MLC incorporates and builds on 68 existing maritime labour conventions and recommendations, as well as other fundamental principles, to ensure decent working and living conditions for all seafarers.
• Importance
• It is considered as the ‘bill of rights’ for the seafarers.
  • It gives the seafarers the right to a safe and secure workplace – where safety standards are complied with; and where they have fair terms of employment, decent living and working conditions, including social protection such as access to medical care, health protection and welfare.
• Applies to: It applies to all commercial seagoing ships operating in international waters or between ports of different countries except fishing, naval and traditionally built vessels.
  • It covers any seafarer who is employed, engaged or working in any capacity on board one of these vessels.
• The MLC sits alongside International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations which deal with the vessel and its operation.
• India’s status: The convention has been ratified by India on 9th October, 2015.