Global Rights for Seafarers: A New Maritime Labour Convention

In February 2006, after almost 5 years of intense negotiations involving governments, shipowners and seafarers, the International Labour Conference adopted a text of a new "super" maritime labour convention. This new Convention, which should be a pillar of maritime law along with SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW conventions, consolidates norms that have been adopted by the International Labour Organization since 1920. In practical terms, it replaces 66 Conventions and Recommendations. In many aspects, the new Convention reflects a new approach to the maritime labour law: its structure, amendment procedure, flexibility in its application by Member States, and a new system of control of ships in foreign ports, will surely contribute to the respect of the fundamental rights of seafarers and better functioning of the maritime industry. A major innovation is the possibility of issuing two documents (Maritime Labour Certificate and Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance) that should facilitatate the control of ships in foreign ports.