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Australia ratifies the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)

Australia becomes the 22nd member State to ratify the landmark Convention, which sets out seafarers’ rights to decent working and living conditions while creating fair competition for shipowners.

GENEVA (ILO News) – On 14 December 2011, the Government of Australia deposited with the International Labour Office the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). Australia becomes the 22nd member State to ratify the landmark Convention, which sets out seafarers’ rights to decent working and living conditions while creating fair competition for shipowners.

In depositing the instrument of ratification, Mr Greg Vines, Minister (Labour) stated: “As the largest island continent, Australia’s economic future is inextricably linked to safe and productive shipping. It is in our environmental and economic interest to ensure that ships that travel through the Asia-Pacific region are safe, secure and crewed by seafarers that are decently treated, fairly paid and well trained. In ratifying the MLC, 2006, Australia is proud to be contributing to comprehensive rights and protection for the world’s more than 1.2 million seafarers who work in this fundamental global industry

With the ratification of the MLC, 2006 by Australia, 22 ILO member States, representing over 56 per cent of the world gross tonnage of ships, are now parties to the Convention

The above report is taken from THIS PAGE of the ILO web site. More details are available from that site.

Photo: [L-R] Col Brown, Greg Vines and Reverend Dennis Claughton at the ILO. Greg is the Australian Government's permanent representative to the International Labour Organization.

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