On 12 May 2016, the Government of Portugal deposited with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) .
With the ratification of Portugal, 78th ILO member States have now committed themselves to the decent work standards of the Convention. As the fourth pillar of the international maritime legal regime, in complement to key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Convention establishes and protects decent working and living conditions for seafarers while ensuring conditions of fair competition for shipowners.
Portugal is a key maritime player with a merchant fleet of more than 8 million gross tonnage of shipping. Portugal is also an important country for port State control inspection of conditions on foreign flag ships as it hosts major sea ports, including the Ports of Leixoes, Lisbon, and Sines.
The MLC, 2006 entered into force on 20 August 2013. The Convention will enter into force for Portugal on 12 May 2017, that is, one year after its ratification.
Source: ILO
