In the context of the entry into force of the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) in Belgium on 20 August 2014, the federal public services for Mobility and Transport, Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, and Social Security issued a press release (FR) announcing a Protocol Agreement establishing their cooperation in the monitoring of the implementation of this new convention.
The Protocol Agreement foresees exchange of data and expertise between the different public services involved and a centralized control of ships by one institution, the Belgian Shipping Control Services, which will verify the compliance of ships with all national and international standards including the MLC, 2006.
While the control systems applied by the Belgian state until now were mainly focusing on safety and security, with the entry into force of the MLC, controlling and certification will be extended to issues related to seafarers’ living and working conditions.
The Maritime Labour Convention of the ILO (MLC, 2006) came into force on 20 August 2014, one year after the ratification by the Belgian government on 20 August 2013. A Belgian law of 13 June 2014 provides for the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
