ILO Convention - Social welfare and security for seafarers

As previously informed, MariTerm AB continuously seeks information about the outcome from the current process between and within ILO & IMO regarding future mandatory code that will render in the need for a management system in order to ensure the social welfare for seafarers.

The shipping industry is one of the most international businesses and global standards have existed for many years especially within the field of maritime security.

It has for a some time been known that work is in progress in order to create a uniform standard for the seafarers onboard vessels and apparently things are getting settled.

With intervals ILO held's specific maritime conferences and between the 7th to the 23rd February 2006 "The 94th Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference" was held in Genève, Switzerland.

The objectives with the conference were to adopt the proposed convention that has been under discussion for a couple of years. The new convention includes some 60 different old conventions concerning international rights with respect to social welfare for seafarers in one basket, the Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention.

The new convention both demands and gives guidelines about how seafarers social rights are ensured including, salary, medical insurance, vacation, manning levels onboard, education and so on.

The new convention has been developed in order to become applicable on a global basis and also become a global instrument in order to enhance quality shipping in the world.

The new convention requires that the shipping company for the administration or the recognised organisation is able to provide evidence that the convention is followed e.g. it is a matter of audit and certification.

In order to ensure that the requirements from the convention has been fulfilled a management system very similar to the "Safety Management System" as known from the ISM code could be developed.

A "Proposed consolidated maritime labour Convention" are now available but when the final date for implementation will be announced is still unknown.

MariTerm AB is fully in progress producing a suitable template for the maritime industry readily available well within deadline for implementation certification.

Our web page will continuously be updated with the latest information about this topic.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information please contact Peter Andersson telephone +46 42 33 31 00, telefax +46 42 33 31 02.