COMPENDIUM OF MARITIME LABOUR INSTRUMENTS (ILO)

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006), entered into force on 20 August 2013 and has been ratified by 112 countries, representing more than 96 per cent of the world gross tonnage of ships. Often called the "bill of rights" for seafarers, it sets out seafarers' rights to decent living and working conditions. Governments, seafarers and shipowners all regard this Convention as a landmark development for the world's most globalized sector and support its full implementation in law and in practice.

Key features

- Consolidates and updates the majority (68 out of 72) of the ILO's maritime Conventions (37) and Recommendations adopted since 1920

- Includes all currently in-force amendments to the MLC, 2006, reflecting its continued evolution

- Includes the latest sets of amendments which were approved by the International Labour Conference in June 2025 and which are expected to enter into force on 23 December 2027

- Includes the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003, as amended (No. 185), including the 2016 Amendments to its Annexes and the Work in Fishing Convention (No. 188) and Recommendation (No. 199), 2007

- Incorporates the fundamental Conventions of the ILO, and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998) as amended in 2022, supporting a broader understanding of international labour standards

- Demonstrates the role of tripartism, social dialogue and international cooperation in addressing maritime labour challenges

- Contains an updated Frequently Asked Questions section