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ARTICLE · 20 FEBRUARY 2025

Malta Implements Key Reforms To Maritime Labour Laws

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Malta has enacted the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, introducing significant reforms to enhance seafarers' rights and working conditions on Maltese-flagged vessels.

MaltaTransport
Thomas Jacobsen
Thomas Jacobsen
Szabolcs Toth
Szabolcs Toth

Malta has enacted the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, introducing significant reforms to enhance seafarers' rights and working conditions on Maltese-flagged vessels. These changes stem from amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), aligning national regulations with evolving global maritime practices.

Key Amendments and Legal Reforms

Strengthened Protections for Seafarers

  • Shipowners and recruitment agencies must maintain insurance or equivalent financial security to compensate seafarers for monetary losses arising from recruitment failures or employment breaches.
  • Seafarers' wages are guaranteed regardless of the ship's freight earnings, ensuring stable remuneration.

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