Egypt and ILO strengthen maritime labour standards following convention ratification

Cairo (ILO News)– Egypt has reached a significant milestone in its maritime sector by successfully hosting its third pivotal roundtable on the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC, 2006).

The event, held in Cairo with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO), brought together government officials, employers, and workers with the objective of aligning national regulations with international labour standards.

The Convention, which was ratified by Egypt earlier this year, will come into force on 7 June 2025. The event was attended by key stakeholders, including H.E. Mohamed Gobran, Minister of Labour, Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, Admiral Hussein Mostafa El-Geziry, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety, representing H.E. Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, Ambassador Amina Fahmy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Beatriz Vacotto, Head of the Maritime Unit in the ILO’s International Labour Standards Department, Fouad Bitar, ILO Labour Standards Specialist, and Wafaa Abdelkader, ILO Workers' Activities Specialist for North Africa.

In addition, representatives from the Egyptian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, the National Organization for Social Insurance, Landmark Marine Company, the General Trade Union for Maritime Transport Affairs, the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, the Marine Officers Union, the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the National Navigation Company, the Maritime Transport Sector, and the Arab Academy for Science and Technology were in attendance.

Minister Gobran reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to international labour standards through the ratification of the MLC 2006, which was endorsed by a presidential decree issued by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, following parliamentary approval. The Convention sets out the minimum standards of working and living conditions that needs to be met for all seafarers on board ships. These include decent working conditions, health and safety, living standards, access to medical care, social security, and procedures for addressing and resolving seafarers’ complaints.

He emphasized that the Convention provides a strategic opportunity to advance Egypt's maritime transport industry, ensure the operational continuity of the national maritime fleet, and address the global demand for skilled Egyptian seafarers. This initiative will provide a significant boost to Egypt’s economy and enhance its position in the international maritime labour market.

The Minister highlighted that Egypt's strategic location at the crossroads of global trade routes and the vital role of the Suez Canal position the country to maximize the benefits of the implementation of the MLC, 2006.

In his opening remarks, Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, congratulated Egypt on ratifying the Convention and noted that this landmark achievement underscores Egypt’s commitment to international labour standards and decent working conditions for seafarers.

He described the MLC, 2006 as a globally applicable and easily enforceable framework, often referred to as the "fourth pillar" of international maritime law. Oechslin emphasized that the ILO’s collective objective with Egypt’s tripartite partners is to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention.

"The ILO is fully committed to providing Egypt with the necessary support during this transition period. This will include technical assistance, capacity building programmes, and the development of resources such as research and guidelines," said Oechslin.

Admiral El-Geziry, Chairman of the Egyptian Maritime Safety Authority, stated: "The Ministry of Transport is dedicated to enhancing Egypt's position as a key supporter of the maritime sector both nationally and internationally by developing legislative systems and strengthening cooperation with international organizations to ensure the rights of both Egyptian and international seafarers. He reaffirmed the authority's commitment to continue its efforts to achieve this goal and contribute to the sustainable development of the maritime sector.

During the roundtable sessions, stakeholders outlined a roadmap for capacity building, identified internal and external needs for the implementation of the MLC, 2006, and discussed necessary policy alignments, and the introduction of model maritime employment contracts. They also reviewed the progress made since Egypt’s ratification of the MLC, 2006 in June 2024 and discussed strategies for continuous improvement towards full application of the Convention by June 2025.