The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) is a single,
consolidated convention that sets out seafarers' rights to
decent working conditions and helps to create fair conditions of
competition for shipowners. The MLC brings together international
standards, updates all the existing maritime labour instruments
and, for the first time, creates a system of certification and
inspection to enforce those standards.
The MLC required 30 countries representing 33% of world tonnage
to achieve the necessary ratification. Both thresholds have now
been met and the MLC will come into force in August 2013. The 30
countries that have currently ratified the MLC represent nearly 60
percent of the world's shipping tonnage. This figure will grow
as more countries are expected to ratify the MLC in the coming
months. The UK expect to be in a position to ratify the MLC in
early 2013.
