On 20 June 2013, the Government of Barbados deposited with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006).
Barbados is the 38th ILO Member State, and the fifth State from the Caribbean region – after Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – to have ratified the landmark Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. Barbados has a merchant fleet totalling 1.4 million gross tons and also operates a separate yacht register.
The Barbados Maritime Ship Registry (BMSR) is recognized as a quality flag and appears on the white list of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port Sate Control. As an island nation, Barbados’ Bridgetown Port is vital for the national economy offering berthing services to world’s largest cruise ships and also container handling services for much of the region.
In transmitting the instrument of ratification, Senator H.E. Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, stated: “Barbados, working within our Tripartite Social Partnership framework, is proud to continue its strong and distinguished record of ensuring necessary safeguards for all workers, and, with the ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, ensuring Decent Work for seafarers. As a Small Island Developing State, and given the importance of the maritime sector, the Government of Barbados attaches great importance to this Convention, which is also timely as Barbados moves to implement more sustainable development practices and initiatives and promote Green jobs.”
In receiving the instrument of ratification of the MLC, 2006 by Barbados, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said: “Today, exactly two months before the entry into force of the MLC, 2006 and just five days before the international Day of the Seafarer, I have the pleasure to welcome yet another Caribbean country within the constantly expanding MLC family. This ratification exemplifies how inter-ministerial synergies and social dialogue backed by technical assistance from the Office can achieve remarkable results”.
The Director-General commended the tripartite constituents of Barbados for the ratification as a “demonstration of leadership and vision”. He also recalled the crucial role played in the development of the Convention by a distinguished Barbadian, Sir Roy Trotman, who served for nine years as Chairperson of the Workers’ group of the ILO Governing Body.
“The challenge that lies ahead now is the effective implementation of the MLC, 2006 in law and practice and I am confident that the Government of Barbados will take timely action to this end”, Ryder added.
With the ratification of the MLC, 2006 by Barbados, 38 ILO member States, representing 69 per cent of the world gross tonnage of ships, are now parties to the Convention. The MLC, 2006 will enter into force on 20 August 2013, that is 12 months after the date on which it was ratified by 30 Members with a total share in the world gross tonnage of ships of at least 33 per cent. Background information on the Convention and related documents can be accessed at http://www.ilo.org/mlc
Labour standards
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