MLC 2006

The International Labour Organisation’s Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is a human right’s act which provides comprehensive rights and protection for seafarers. It aims to achieve both decent work and working conditions for seafarers and also to secure economic interests for quality shipowners. This new labour standard consolidates and updates more than 68 international labour standards related to the maritime sector.

MLC applies to all the registered commercial vessels regardless of the flag state they belong to. This will also include leisure and commercial yachts, which are engaged on international voyages besides a few exceptions as stated in their circular discussing application of MLC on types of vessels. Vessels must be over 500 GRT to carry the MLC certificate. For vessels under 500 GRT, guidelines recommend the vessels to be voluntarily complying with the convention and as documented by the flag states.

Please note that working on a yacht whose flagstate is a country which has not ratified the MLC 2006 means that there is a risk that your seafarer employment agreement (SEA) may not be MLC 2006 compliant and you won’t necessarily have the protection afforded by MLC 2006.