Brussels, 11/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - At its plenary session at the end of May, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) revised the amended Maritime Labour Convention and adopted two new instruments to tackle forced labour. This news was welcomed by the European Commission, which expects the member states to ratify these key documents as soon as possible.
At this same plenary session, the ILO approved the revision of the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention. This guarantees the protection of seafarers in cases of the abandonment of merchant ships. There have been 160 such cases since 2006. In the most extreme cases, seafarers have been left on board ships without pay, often for several months, with no way to return home or means to ensure food supplies, or medical care. The amendments now demand that merchant ships provide certificates to prove that they have the financial means to protect the seafarers on board. If this cannot be proved, a merchant ship could be prevented from sailing. Minimum prerequisites have also been added to the Convention to guarantee swift compensation for seafarers and their families in the event of death or incapacity.
The International Labour Conference also adopted a new protocol and recommendation to supplement the Forced Labour Convention. Over 21 million people are victims of forced or compulsory labour. Signatory countries commit themselves to improving the protection of victims and providing access to appropriate and effective remedies, such as compensation. Laszlo Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, welcomed the adoption of the two new international instruments to combat forced labour, which, he said, would make the EU “better equipped to combat today's forms of forced labour”. The Forced Labour Convention was originally established in 1930. Many European laws and policies are based on international standards drawn up by the ILO. Commissioner Andor and his colleague, Cecilia Malström, responsible for home affairs, are therefore making a strong appeal to member states to ratify and apply these two instruments as quickly as possible. (MD)