Brussels, 22/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - The international maritime labour convention entered into force on 20 August, arousing enthusiasm from European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas. The amendments to the European legislation concerned were adopted during the Irish Presidency of the European Union Council of Ministers. The EU thus becomes one of the first regions in the world to apply this very important convention for the living and working conditions of seafarers.
The convention was established in 2006 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and concerns around 1.2 million people working in the maritime sector. Kallas reacted to its entry into force, recalling that seafarers are among the best trained professionals in the world and that “this convention is crucial for the creation of a level playing field in maritime transport”. In his view, it will bring standards up globally and should help to support the employment and training of EU seafarers.
European legislation is already in line with this convention. Under the Irish Presidency, the revision of the legislation on port state control and flag state obligations was ratified on the basis of a Commission proposal of March 2012.
In addition, Directive 2009/13/EC applying an agreement made between the European social partners entered into force on the same day as the convention. This directive provides for good conditions for seafarers, going beyond the requirements of the international convention - especially with regard to annual holiday, and health and safety conditions.
This mix of measures places the EU in the lead among the countries trying to implement the convention as quickly as possible. The director general of the ILO, Guy Ryder, moreover called on all countries with a maritime interest to ratify the convention as soon as possible, and urged governments and shipowners to work effectively to implement it. (MD/transl.fl)