The convention aims to consolidate international labour and employment standards. It sets minimum global standards for seafarers' living and working conditions.
The
UK Chamber of Shippingsaid it is “delighted” that the UK formally ratified the treaty yesterday.
“We have campaigned heavily in Parliament to ensure MPs from across the political spectrum understood the importance of the MLC and worked with us to achieve ratification,” said Director-General Mark Brownrigg.
The new International Labour Organization (ILO) convention consolidates and updates more than 68 international labour standards in the maritime sector.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the ratification of the convention has been “a lengthy process that involved a number of Government departments including DWP, FCO and BIS alongside extensive contributions from the UK Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International, the RMT union and other stakeholders”.
The UK's adoption has been extended to include the Isle of Man and Gibraltar.
Stephen Hammond MP, Minister for Shipping, said:
"I am pleased to adopt this convention. This will ensure that there are globally agreed standards for seafarers and their right to decent working conditions. It will also provide clarity of regulatory approach and remove obstacles to regional trade.
"It also ensures a level playing field for the UK merchant fleet because the Convention will require ships registered in other states to meet internationally agreed standards."
Mr Brownrigg said the
UK Chamber“has been deeply involved in the work needed to ratify the MLC on behalf of our members to ensure it is fit for purpose”.
“We have been part of the long term working groups and consultations to look at both national and international implementation,” he said.
“We extend our thanks and congratulations to Government for achieving this in a very short timescale.
“The Maritime Labour Convention is crucial for our industry, creating a level playing field in which standards for mariners are brought into line with those applicable to land-based work, whilst still recognising the unique environment in which seafarers work.
“We look forward to working very closely with all parties – particularly the Maritime and Coastguard Agency – going forward to ensure the smooth implementation of the detailed regulations required to make the MLC a success.”
The UK has 1,383 vessels on its register totalling 16.57 million gross tonnage. There are approximately 89,000 seafarers working on UK flagged ships and more than 24,100 UK nationals work as seafarers.