Posted:
August 20, 2013
The Maritime Labor Convention of 2006 (MLC) entered into force today. Although the U.S. has not yet ratified the MLC 2006, certain U.S.-flagged vessels operating in international trades will be subject to its requirements.
American Maritime Officers has already established the union's compliance with the MLC 2006 pertaining to all affected AMO-contracted vessels operating under foreign registry.
As previously reported, although the U.S. has not ratified the convention and cannot issue certificates of compliance, the U.S. Coast Guard has established procedures for owners and operators of U.S.-flagged vessels to obtain statements of voluntary compliance (SOVC-MLC). These are contained in NVIC 02-13.
Widely known as the seafarers' bill of rights, the International Labor Organization's MLC 2006 establishes comprehensive minimum working and living standards for seafarers, and serves as a step toward ensuring fair competition and a level worldwide playing field in the shipping industry.
"The MLC represents a significant leap forward in the global trade union campaign to improve the labor rights and labor standards of seafarers," said Paddy Crumlin, president of the International Transport Workers' Federation, with which American Maritime Officers is affiliated. "It is a true watershed in international shipping, which adds the pillar of workers' rights to existing standards of safety, security and crew standards."
The MLC contains a 'no more favorable treatment' clause that stipulates the government of each nation that has ratified the convention must enforce its requirements on vessels calling at its ports.
"U.S. laws and regulations and the policies of U.S.-flag carriers, as well as AMO collective bargaining agreements, are already substantially in compliance with the MLC," said American Maritime Officers National Vice President for Government Relations Mike Murphy. "However, since the U.S. has not ratified the MLC, our nation can neither enforce the provisions nor issue official MLC compliance certificates for U.S.-flagged vessels.
"In an effort to protect U.S. ships and crews from port state control inspections and detentions, the U.S. Coast Guard published NVIC 02-13 outlining procedures to obtain a statement of voluntary compliance from classification societies like the American Bureau of Shipping," Murphy said. "I strongly recommend that all owners and crews avail themselves of this opportunity."
A detailed explanation of the MLC 2006 is available on the International Labor Organization's website.
Information on the MLC, including a listing of all nations that have ratified the convention, can also be found on the ILO website.
Maritime Labor Convention now in effect
The Maritime Labor Convention of 2006 (MLC) entered into force today. Although the U.S. has not yet ratified the MLC 2006, certain U.S.-flagged vessels operating in international trades will be subject to its requirements.
American Maritime Officers has already established the union's compliance with the MLC 2006 pertaining to all affected AMO-contracted vessels operating under foreign registry.
As previously reported, although the U.S. has not ratified the convention and cannot issue certificates of compliance, the U.S. Coast Guard has established procedures for owners and operators of U.S.-flagged vessels to obtain statements of voluntary compliance (SOVC-MLC). These are contained in NVIC 02-13.
Widely known as the seafarers' bill of rights, the International Labor Organization's MLC 2006 establishes comprehensive minimum working and living standards for seafarers, and serves as a step toward ensuring fair competition and a level worldwide playing field in the shipping industry.
"The MLC represents a significant leap forward in the global trade union campaign to improve the labor rights and labor standards of seafarers," said Paddy Crumlin, president of the International Transport Workers' Federation, with which American Maritime Officers is affiliated. "It is a true watershed in international shipping, which adds the pillar of workers' rights to existing standards of safety, security and crew standards."
The MLC contains a 'no more favorable treatment' clause that stipulates the government of each nation that has ratified the convention must enforce its requirements on vessels calling at its ports.
"U.S. laws and regulations and the policies of U.S.-flag carriers, as well as AMO collective bargaining agreements, are already substantially in compliance with the MLC," said American Maritime Officers National Vice President for Government Relations Mike Murphy. "However, since the U.S. has not ratified the MLC, our nation can neither enforce the provisions nor issue official MLC compliance certificates for U.S.-flagged vessels.
"In an effort to protect U.S. ships and crews from port state control inspections and detentions, the U.S. Coast Guard published NVIC 02-13 outlining procedures to obtain a statement of voluntary compliance from classification societies like the American Bureau of Shipping," Murphy said. "I strongly recommend that all owners and crews avail themselves of this opportunity."
A detailed explanation of the MLC 2006 is available on the International Labor Organization's website.
Information on the MLC, including a listing of all nations that have ratified the convention, can also be found on the ILO website.