MLC-2006, “Seafarers Bill of Rights”, officially enters into force today, on August 20, 2013 and Paris MoU has announced its readiness for enforcement of the new requirements, says Seafarers' Union of Russia (SUR).
The MLC applies to all ships engaged in commercial activities. International certification is required for all ships of 500GT and over, making international voyages.
Only members of the Paris MoU who have ratified the MLC on or before 20 August 2012 are entitled to conduct Port State Control inspections from 20 August 2013. As a result the following twelve member States will start enforce the MLC: Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Spain and Sweden.
Members of the Paris MoU who have ratified the MLC after 20 August 2012 will first be entitled to conduct PSC inspections 12 months after the date of this Members ratification.
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) is an International Labour Organization convention established in 2006 as the Fourth pillar of international maritime law and embodies " all up-to-date standards of existing international maritime labour Conventions and Recommendations, as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other international labour Conventions". The other "pillars” are the SOLAS, STCW and MARPOL.
Related link:
Maritime Labour Convention to come into force in August 2013>>>>