The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), a landmark treaty that has significantly improved working and living conditions for seafarers worldwide while promoting fair competition in global shipping. Adopted on 23 February 2006 through a unique tripartite consensus among governments, shipowners, and seafarers, the Convention established a comprehensive global framework regulating employment conditions, wages, hours of work and rest, accommodation, health care, welfare, and social security in one of the world’s most international industries.
Over the past two decades, the MLC, 2006 has delivered tangible improvements for millions of seafarers, setting enforceable minimum standards supported by strong compliance and enforcement mechanisms. By establishing fair labor practices, the Convention has also helped level the playing field for responsible shipowners, reducing unfair competition tied to substandard labor conditions and enhancing the safety, efficiency, and resilience of global maritime transport.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted seafarers’ essential role in maintaining the flow of critical goods worldwide, emphasizing the need for full implementation and enforcement of the MLC, 2006 protections. Despite progress, challenges remain, including unlawful attacks on ships, abandonment of crew, criminalization of seafarers, fatigue, unpaid wages, and restricted shore leave. The Convention, designed as a living instrument, addresses such challenges through continuous tripartite dialogue and adaptation to emerging issues.
The Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC, 2006 has played a key role in reviewing and amending the Convention to ensure it remains responsive to new realities, safeguarding seafarers’ rights while strengthening industry standards. The ILO and IMO reaffirm their commitment to supporting the effective global implementation of the MLC, 2006, urging states and industry stakeholders to uphold its provisions, strengthen compliance, and collaborate to ensure seafarers’ rights, contributing to a fair, inclusive, and sustainable maritime sector.
Together, the ILO and IMO have developed guidelines to address issues such as seafarer abandonment and the fair treatment of seafarers in accidents or legal detentions. The Joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group on Seafarers’ Issues and the Human Element, established in 2022, addresses ongoing concerns including violence, harassment, sexual assault, and sexual harassment in the maritime sector, ensuring continuous improvements for the protection and welfare of seafarers worldwide.
