Dierk Lindemann
Interview for the Oral Archives of the ILO Century Project by Anne Trebilcock
Dierk Lindemann was born on 16 October 1941 in Hamburg, Germany. He served as Managing Director of the German Shipowners’ Association from 1991 to 2006 and as Legal Adviser to the Association from 1972 to 2006. Over a period of 35 years, Mr Lindemann litigated more than 10,000 cases before the Labour Court (Maritime Branch) in Hamburg. He is the author of the German Seaman’s Act Commentary undertaking six editions of the commentary over the years. Mr Lindemann has been involved in ILO standard-setting activities in the maritime field since 1975. He has served as the spokesperson for the Shipowners’ group at the ILO Maritime Meetings from 1996 to 2006, including the ILO Joint Maritime Commission meetings and the ILC sessions in 1996 and in 2006 when the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 was adopted. From 1990 to 2006, Mr Lindemann was the Chairperson of the Labour Affairs Committee of the International Shipping Federation, as well as the Social Affairs Committee of the European Shipowners’ Association.
Education
Degrees in Law and Economics, University of Hamburg and University of Göttingen, Germany.
Ph.D in Law. Thesis on C147 Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention 1976.
Abstract
The interview explores ILO’s involvement in maritime labour issues. Mr Lindemann shares his insights and experiences of ILO maritime conferences and working on Conventions from the 1970s through the 2000s as the representative of the ship owners of Germany. He emphasizes the importance of the adoption of C147 Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention 1976 and the adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC). Mr Lindemann explains the differences between the texts and provisions of the MLC and the maritime conventions adopted prior to it, stressing the importance of international regulation of minimum wages and of provisions on repatriation, medical care, and working hours. According to Lindemann, the process of discussing, negotiating and finally adopting maritime conventions has changed over the past 30 years. Lindemann sheds light on important innovations brought about by the MLC and draws attention to the problems which arise with countries that have not ratified it. He describes the role of the Joint Maritime Commission with regard to the Convention on Maritime Minimum Wage and touches upon the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, as well as the 2008 Declaration on Social Justice and Fair Globalization.
Key words
Collective bargaining agreement, European Social Partners’ Agreement, European Union (EU), General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), globalization, ILO Committee of Experts, ILO Maritime Conference, International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Organization of Employers (IOE), International Shipowners’ Federation (ISF), International Transport Federation (ITF), Joint Maritime Commission, Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), medical care, C147 Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention 1976, minimum wage, port state control provision, real economy, repatriation, social security, tripartism, C188 Work in Fishing Convention 2007, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, working hours, World Trade Organization (WTO), ILO 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, ILO 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization.
Names mentioned
Doumbia-Henry, Cleopatra; Orrell, Brian; Schindler, Jean-Marc.
Should you wish to obtain the full transcript of this authorized oral interview or quote from it, you can obtain permission by contacting ilocentury@ilo.org. The views expressed are those of the interviewee, and the inclusion of the interview and/or its transcript, either partly or in full, on the ILO Century Project website does not constitute an endorsement of their contents by the ILO.
Education
Degrees in Law and Economics, University of Hamburg and University of Göttingen, Germany.
Ph.D in Law. Thesis on C147 Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention 1976.
Abstract
The interview explores ILO’s involvement in maritime labour issues. Mr Lindemann shares his insights and experiences of ILO maritime conferences and working on Conventions from the 1970s through the 2000s as the representative of the ship owners of Germany. He emphasizes the importance of the adoption of C147 Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention 1976 and the adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC). Mr Lindemann explains the differences between the texts and provisions of the MLC and the maritime conventions adopted prior to it, stressing the importance of international regulation of minimum wages and of provisions on repatriation, medical care, and working hours. According to Lindemann, the process of discussing, negotiating and finally adopting maritime conventions has changed over the past 30 years. Lindemann sheds light on important innovations brought about by the MLC and draws attention to the problems which arise with countries that have not ratified it. He describes the role of the Joint Maritime Commission with regard to the Convention on Maritime Minimum Wage and touches upon the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, as well as the 2008 Declaration on Social Justice and Fair Globalization.
Key words
Collective bargaining agreement, European Social Partners’ Agreement, European Union (EU), General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), globalization, ILO Committee of Experts, ILO Maritime Conference, International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Organization of Employers (IOE), International Shipowners’ Federation (ISF), International Transport Federation (ITF), Joint Maritime Commission, Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), medical care, C147 Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention 1976, minimum wage, port state control provision, real economy, repatriation, social security, tripartism, C188 Work in Fishing Convention 2007, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, working hours, World Trade Organization (WTO), ILO 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, ILO 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization.
Names mentioned
Doumbia-Henry, Cleopatra; Orrell, Brian; Schindler, Jean-Marc.
Should you wish to obtain the full transcript of this authorized oral interview or quote from it, you can obtain permission by contacting ilocentury@ilo.org. The views expressed are those of the interviewee, and the inclusion of the interview and/or its transcript, either partly or in full, on the ILO Century Project website does not constitute an endorsement of their contents by the ILO.