Bilbao hosts labour convention conference
(Posted on 31/05/18)
The Port of Bilbao has hosted the IV tripartite conference regarding the application of the Maritime Labour Convention in Spain. Asier Atutxa, Chairman of the Port Authority of Bilbao, María Jesús San José, Autonomous Basque Government Minister for Employment and Justice and Joaquín Nieto, Director of the International Labour Organisation Office for Spain, took part in the inauguration of the event.
The Maritime Labour Convention is an international norm of the International Labour Organisation which was adopted in 2006 and came into force 20 August 2013.
The Convention is defined as the “seafarers’ bill of rights” and its main aims are to guarantee wide protection of the rights of seafaring workers throughout the world, the first truly global sector, and to ensure fair competition for quality owners of ships flying the flags of ratifying countries, thus protecting them from unfair competition from vessels that do not comply with the norms.
The Convention constitutes the “fourth pillar” of the international regulatory regime for quality shipping, complementing the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The comprehensive Convention sets out in one place seafarers’ rights to decent working conditions on almost every aspect of their working and living conditions including, among others, minimum age, employment agreements, hours of work or rest, payment of wages, paid annual leave, repatriation at the end of contract, on-board medical care, the use of licensed private recruitment and placement services, accommodation, food and catering, health and safety protection and accident prevention and seafarers’ complaint handling.
It also contains important new compliance and enforcement components based on flag State inspection and for port State control. The Convention mandates that commercially operated ships of 500 gross tonnage or over and governed by its provisions will, if they operate on international voyages, be required to carry, among other things, two specific documents: a
Maritime Labour Certificate (MLC) and a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) providing prima facie evidence that the ships are in compliance with the requirements of the Convention. These two documents will be subject to inspection when ships enter the ports of other countries that have ratified the Convention. In addition, ships flying the flag of countries that have not ratified the Convention will also be subject to inspection with respect to working and living conditions for seafarers when they enter ports of countries where it is in force.
This “no more favourable treatment” approach, is an important aspect to help ensure fair competition for ship-owners that comply with the Convention.
Latest News
AD Ports begins LEO satellite connectivity rollout across global operations
(Posted on 22/09/25)Abu Dhabi based AD Ports Group, a leading global enabler of trade, logistics, and industry services,... Read more
Port of Immingham welcomes Wilson Eco I
(Posted on 22/09/25)Associated British Ports (ABP) has welcomed the Wilson Eco I to its Port of Immingham on the vessel&... Read more
Peel Ports to invest £100m to expand national steel and metals multimodal hub
(Posted on 15/09/25)The UK’s second largest port operator is progressing with £32m to add a further 140,000... Read more
Jobs and investment boost for UK’s largest steel-handling port
(Posted on 14/09/25)The First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan and Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca... Read more
Karachi Terminals major dredging agreement to double bulk vessel capacity
(Posted on 09/09/25)AD Ports Group, a leading enabler of global trade, logistics, and industry, has announced the signing... Read more
Long An Port signs agreements with ports of Portland and Gothenburg
(Posted on 08/09/25)During the Tay Ninh E-Commerce and Export-Import Supply Chain Networking Forum 2025, Long An International... Read more
Sohar tracks shipment reflects accelerated construction of Oman–UAE railway
(Posted on 01/09/25)In a step that reflects the accelerated construction of the Oman–UAE Railway Network, Hafeet Rail... Read more
Peel Ports joins Aluminium Federation to boost sector capabilities
(Posted on 01/09/25)Peel Ports Group has underlined its commitment to supporting UK aluminium and metals supply chains by... Read more
Fednav’s Arctic experience to bring year-round shipping from Port of Churchill
(Posted on 25/08/25)Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) and Fednav Limited (Fednav) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding... Read more
Upgrade is game-changer for Port of Oshawa
(Posted on 15/08/25)Thanks to a suite of recent upgrades, vessels can now access the Port of Oshawa, Canada, 24/7, giving... Read more
