UK to take 4 or 5 years to ratify ILO Super Convention
Speaking at seminar organised by The Mission to Seafarers, UK Shipping Minister Stephen Ladyman said that it would take at least four years to ratify the new Maritime Labour Convention.Delegates from the UK government, the shipping industry and voluntary organisations gathered in London to discuss seafarers’ welfare heard Dr Ladyman praise the Maritime Labour Convention, which consolidates and updates existing ILO maritime labour standards. It covers subjects ranging from minimum age and fitness, employment agreements and hours of work, seafarers’ accommodation, and health, safety and social security matters.The new legislation will bring about a more level playing field in terms of everyone involved in the shipping industry having a role to play in the welfare of seafarers.Dr Ladyman said that UK was a key player in the five-year development of the ILO Convention, “which has to be ratified by many nations”. He said: “There are areas where legislative change will be needed and this means it will be four or five years before the UK can ratify the Convention.”