- COVID-19 has impacted all aspects of life and badly affected the world of seafarers.
- ILO has published revised guidelines on maritime labour issues and coronavirus.
- Numerous governments, seafarers’ and shipowners’ organizations have turned to the ILO for advice.
- It addresses the complexities of the current crisis in light.
- It is based on the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006).
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created a global crisis that has impacted all aspects of life and badly affected the world of work, says a press release published by International Labour Organization.
ILO issues guidance on ways to address the complexities
In the maritime sector, it has severely disrupted the functioning of shipping and affected the work of nearly 2 million seafarers worldwide.
Numerous governments and seafarers’ and shipowners’ organizations have turned to the International Labour Office (hereinafter the Office) for guidance on how best to address the complexities of the current crisis in light of the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006).
Solutions to address existing challenges
This information note aims to respond to such requests by referring to the MLC, 2006, the work of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), a statement of the Officers of the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC, 2006, (STC) and, when relevant, the recommendations published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Both the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers’
Federation has been active since the beginning of this crisis to support seafarers and shipowners worldwide, find concrete solutions to existing challenges and provide advice to their members.
Key highlights
- Seafarers’ safety and health
- Facilitation of transit and transfer of seafarers and repatriation
- Expiry of seafarers’ employment agreements
- The maximum period of service on board and safeguards
- Reduction of minimum manning
- Expiry of medical certificates
- Certification in respect of training and qualifications
- Maritime labour certificate and inspections
- Social protection: Seafarers’ entitlement to paid sick leave in case of infection or quarantine
- Shore leave and welfare facilities during the pandemic
- Abandonment of seafarers
You can read the detailed report from here.
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Source: InternationalLabourOrganization
