Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and its application

An international standard

Australia is a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC). The convention was developed under the International Labour Organization and came into force internationally on 20 August 2013. The MLC consolidates existing labour conventions and introduces modern standards for the working and living conditions of seafarers.

The MLC provides working and living standards for the world’s 1.4 million seafarers and sits alongside the following conventions: 

• 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. 

Implementation of MLC in Australia

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]

In Australia, the MLC has been implemented primarily through the Navigation Act 2012. Implementation is supported by domestic legislation including Marine Order 11.  

Marine Order 11 contains regulations that address:

• maritime labour certificates
• interim maritime labour certificates
• recruitment and placement
• complaints
• engagement and working conditions of seafarers
• provisions
• health
• accommodation—use and vessel plans/ design and construction/working spaces
• welfare of seafarers
• accommodation—sanitary and laundry facilities/hospital facilities
• repatriation.

Vessels it applies to

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.

Subject areas

The main body of the convention (the regulations and the code) is grouped into 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