ITF Seafarers’ Trust celebrates 20-year MLC Anniversary with funding to promote seafarers’ rights in the Arab world

The ITF Seafarers’ Trust (ITFST) is announcing new project funding of EUR 500,000 to the International Labour Organization on this, the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC). The donation will support institutional capacity building to enhance the protection of seafarers’ rights in the Arab World.

This latest grant to the Organization comes on top of funding the current 3-year project with the ILO and the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO) to improve implementation and enforcement of the MLC, focusing on the regional Memoranda of Understanding of port state control. After completing the first year in the Mediterranean region, the project is now in its second year with a focus on the Indian Ocean. Year three will concentrate on the Viña del Mar region. The Trust is also supporting the ITC-ILO’s open courses at the MLC Academy.

The MLC is recognized as an extraordinarily successful international convention, with unique mechanisms balancing the interests and concerns of all tripartite stakeholders. This approach resulted in early ratifications of the Convention by all major flag states and, to date, 112 ratifications covering 96.6% of the world shipping fleet.

Whilst the Convention was initially billed as a seafarers’ bill of rights, it is now more likely to be regarded as a set of minimum standards, reflecting the challenges of a global and multi-faceted industry. However, its strength lies in the framework it provides for essential tripartite negotiations at both the national and international levels. This new funding will allow the ILO to provide targeted support and development to states in this key region to increase the reach and impact of the MLC.

David Heindel, Chair of the ITFST, said ‘As a consolidated convention that updated many earlier outmoded conventions, the MLC is designed for continuous improvement. This is a virtue, but it can be a challenge for countries juggling multiple priorities and demands. We consider it vital that the ILO is resourced to share its expertise and respond to requests from states in need of technical support.’

Katie Higginbottom, Head of the ITFST, said, ‘We are delighted to be able to facilitate this important work. In a global industry with an international labour market, seafarers are particularly exposed and in need of internationally agreed protections. We are pleased to recognize the excellent work of the ILO secretariat, who are continuing the mission of the original architects of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, whose passion and commitment got it off to such a good start.’