Covid-19 and Maritime Labour Issues

WEBINAR - COVID-19 and Maritime Labour Issues: Impact and Responses

Co-organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Training Centre of the ILO, in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Health Organization (WHO)

5 June 2020 from 11:00 to 12:30 CET

Video of the webinar

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis that has impacted all aspects of life and adversely affected the world of work. In the maritime sector, it has severely disrupted shipping operations and affected the work of nearly 2 million seafarers worldwide.

From the beginning of COVID-19 crisis, the International Chamber of Shipping, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and numerous government’s representatives joined forces with the IMO, the WHO and the ILO to identify and promote the most appropriate responses to protect seafarers and allow the shipping industry to continue playing its crucial role. While several important measures have been taken, many more are needed on an urgent basis to ensure adequate protection of the health and safety of seafarers.

Objective
The webinar will highlight the concerns affecting the employment of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular in light of the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006).

Content
It will start by referring to the international regulations and national practices on key issues and highlight concerns on key issues such as crew changes and repatriation of seafarers, seafarers’ access to medical care, seafarers’ safety and health, certificates required by the MLC, 2006, and seafarers’ welfare.

Panellists

Julie Carlton, Chairperson of the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC, 2006
Sarah Cerche, Spokesperson for the Shipowner Group at ILO
Mark Dickinson, Spokesperson for the Seafarer Group at the ILO
Frederick Kenney, Director, Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, IMO
Ninglan Wang, Unit Head a.i., Border Health Risk Dissemination Unit, Health Emergencies Programme, WHO
Dr. Suzanne Stannard, International Maritime Health Association
Corinne Vargha, Director, International Labour Standards Department, ILO
Beatriz Vacotto, Head of the Maritime Unit, International Labour Standards Department, ILO