Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 and Case Law Symposium

Despite the MLC, 2006 considerable ratification and, positive impact on decent work, seafarers continue to encounter substantial challenges to ensure the protection of their labour rights. In the context of the Covid 19 pandemic, apart from cases of non-payment of wages, poor provisions for food and catering, denial of right to repatriation and abandonment, other critical issues are affecting the working and living conditions of seafarers, such as: crew changes, denied access to medical facilities, chronic cases of fatigue, social isolation and mental health issues. Seafarers’ rights is a complex area since labour rights can exist at different levels (Flag State law, Port State law) and they can be overlapping. The work of the ILO supervisory bodies and the MLC, 2006 Special Tripartite Committee can provide valuable inputs for a comparative analysis of these implications in different areas of the world. OBJECTIVES The workshop aims to provide a good understanding of the MLC, 2006, its provisions and amendments, and a peer review of labour dispute jurisprudence on key issues such as, working conditions, health and safety, recruitment and placement, discrimination, grievances and complaints procedures. Drawing on the guidance of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, the Symposium opens a dialogue focusing on issues arising in the context of labour disputes involving seafarers and facilitates a comparative analysis of current case law at national level. In addition, the event aims to support an international debate among practitioners and labour law practitioners on the effective implementation of the MLC 2006 in a challenging context related to the preservation of minimum rights and protections for all workers in the maritime industry. CONTENT The event intends to facilitate an international debate amongst labour law professionals and practitioners on the guiding role and effective implementation of the MLC, 2006 in a fragmented and challenging context related to the safeguard of minimum rights and protections for all seafarers.