Charity AoS is hopeful, yet cautious
According to Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) the coming into force of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 on 20 August is a critical moment for shipping to ‘up its game’.
The charity warmly welcomed the coming into force of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) on 20 August 2013, hoping the shipping industry will seize this once in a generation opportunity to improve its image and practices.
Last year, at the Apostleship of the Sea World Congress, Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, International Director of Labour Standards at the International Labour Organisation said,”the adoption after five years of intensive international consultation of this major new instrument, covering almost every issue related to seafarers’ working and living conditions and replacing 37 Conventions and related recommendations, is only a starting point.”
Martin Foley,AoS GB National Director, said,
We are hopeful, yet cautious, that the MLC will lead to an improvement in seafarers welfare across the world. All too often our port chaplains and volunteer ship visitors encounter cases of abandonment, non payment of wages and other abuses that we hope this convention will help eradicate. Now that the MLC has come into force, effective enforcement of its provisions is critical if this welcome Bill of Rights for seafarers is to make a practical difference to their lives.
