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Maritime labour convention

Find out about the seafarers’ bill of rights

As a seafarer, do you know there is a bill of rights to ensure you have decent living and working standards? This includes everyone working on board including those on cruise ships.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) sets out seafarers’ rights at work, including employment terms, health and safety, living and working conditions, access to medical care and social security. It came into force in August 2013.

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 For over a decade the ITF worked with governments and shipowners’ representatives within the International Labour Organization (ILO) to create and shape the MLC. Now our focus is to:

  • make sure the MLC is fully implemented worldwide
  • encourage more countries to ratify the MLC
  • make sure seafarers know their rights under the MLC

Check if your country has ratified the MLC

Learn how your union can support ratification and implementation of the MLC – email us at seafarers@itf.org.uk