Maritime Labour Convention 2006

Read the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC)

Vessels it applies to

We apply the MLC to:

• regulated Australian vessels
• foreign flagged vessels in Australia

The MLC applies to all commercial vessels whether publicly or privately owned.

The MLC does not apply to:

• fishing vessels
• vessels of traditional builds (such as dhows and junks)
• warships or naval auxiliaries  
• vessels not ordinarily engaged in commercial activities.

What it covers

The MLC sets modern standards for seafarers' working and living conditions. It covers 5 main subject areas referred to as titles:

• Title 1—Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on vessels
• Title 2—Conditions of employment
• Title 3—Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering
• Title 4—Health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection
• Title 5—Compliance and enforcement

MLC in Australia

Australia is a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC).

We are the authority responsible for regulation of the convention and its requirements in Australia.

Watch a video about our involvement with the convention.

Transcript: AMSA's involvement with the Maritime Labour Convention

0:10
Shipping is an international industry

0:12
responsible for transporting over 90% of the world's 

0:19
trade. The size of the industry requires

0:22
international agreement on standards and

0:27
regulations. It is therefore regulated by

0:30
several international

0:33
[Music]

0:39
conventions. Until recently there was no

0:41
agreed internationally-recognised

0:43
minimum standard for the labor

0:45
conditions of the people who work on

0:47
these vessels - the world's 1.4 million

0:52
seafarers. Some of these seafarers work

0:54
under very poor conditions.

1:01
[Music]

1:05
In 2006, a fourth pillar of regulation

1:08
was added - the Maritime Labor Convention

1:11
or

1:15
MLC. The convention was developed by the

1:17
International Labour Organization (ILO) and

1:21
is the result of a tripartite

1:22
negotiation by representatives of

1:24
government, employers and

1:27
workers. It consolidates a number of

1:30
existing labor conventions while

1:32
introducing modern standards relating to

1:34
the working and living conditions of

1:36
seafarers at

1:40
sea. Australia has a good reputation for

1:43
the treatment of seafarers.

1:46
It became a signatory to the MLC

1:49
which entered into force internationally

1:51
in August

1:54
[Music]

1:58
2013. In Australia, the Australian

2:01
Maritime Safety Authority is responsible

2:03
for ensuring the conditions and welfare

2:05
of seafarers through enforcing the

2:08
requirements of the

2:10
MLC. It conducts over 3,000 vessel

2:13
inspections each year in 70 ports around

2:18
Australia. AMSA also chairs the

2:21
Australian Seafarer's Welfare Council

2:23
which aims to actively promote seafarer

2:26
welfare issues and the services

2:28
available in Australian ports

2:30
to protect and support

2:33
them. Australia's Navigation Act 2012

2:37
contains new provisions that relate

2:39
directly to the

2:41
MLC. Marine Order 11 - Living and working

2:44
conditions on vessels, came into effect

2:47
in July

2:48
2013. This Marine Order includes specific

2:51
regulations for the

2:54
following - accommodation and recreational

2:57
requirements, medical care and 

2:59
facilities including access to dental

3:02
care, access to and use of sanitary and

3:05
laundry

3:06
facilities, free supplies of food and

3:09
water and their storage and

3:12
handling, work agreements and their

3:15
application, rest breaks for seafarers,

3:19
repatriation

3:22
arrangements, inspection regime and

3:25
certification rights for younger seafarers,

3:29
seafarer recruitment and placement

3:32
services, seafarer access to shore-

3:35
based

3:36
welfare, and complaints handling

3:41
procedures. The Maritime Labor Convention

3:43
improves the working and living

3:45
conditions for the world's seafarers.

3:48
For more information on the

3:51
convention please visit AMSA's website.

3:55
[Music]

AMSA ensures compliance with the MLC by:  

• responding to MLC complaints
• inspecting vessels coming into Australian ports
• requiring regulated Australian vessels to hold relevant Maritime Labour Certificates
• taking a leading role in the Australian Seafarers Welfare Council

In Australia, the MLC is primarily implemented through the Navigation Act 2012 and Marine Order 11.  

An international standard

The International Labour Organization developed the MLC and it came into force internationally in 2013.

The MLC sits alongside: 

• International Maritime Organization’s International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
• International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

See a list of countries that have ratified the convention.