ISF publishes new labour convention guidelines

The new ISF guide has been launched to help shipping companies and crews ensure they comply with the ILO MLC which will be enforced in August 2013. The guide addresses the obligations of ship operators including requirements relating to seafarers’ employment contracts, oversight of manning agents, working hours, health and safety, crew accommodation, catering standards and seafarer’ welfare.

Chairman of ISF, Masamichi Morooka, said: “In large part, the Maritime Labour Convention is derived from existing ILO maritime standards and accepted good employment practice. However, the enforcement mechanism is new and the immediate challenge for shipping companies will be to get to grips with the new certification process.”

The guide also contains advice on the MLC certification process, including the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) which might be completed by a shipping company to show ongoing compliance.

In addition, the guide covers port state control, onboard complaint procedures and includes a compliance checklist.

As an official social partner under the tripartite ILO process, ISF was responsible for negotiating the test of the new Convention on behalf of maritime employers.