MLC is a ‘minimum requirements’ treaty setting the floor, not the ceiling
Twenty years after the adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, this landmark “fourth pillar” of international maritime regulations (along with SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW) has undeniably strengthened protection for some of the world’s most vulnerable and marginalised workers: seafarers.
MLC gives seafarers the right to a safe and secure workplace, but significant gaps STILL remain— due to persistent shortcomings in enforcement and the grey areas within the Convention that leave too much room for interpretation.
This anniversary reminds us the crucial role the European Maritime Safety Agency could play in reinforcing the training of EU PSC inspectors for in-depth inspections focused on MLC requirements and work and rest hours of seafarers.
The ETF always calls for enhanced and standardised training for EU PSC inspectors, enabling more in-depth inspections focused on MLC requirements, particularly those relating to hours of work and rest, non-payment of wages, social security failures, and other serious, detainable deficiencies of MLC. Inspector training should also foster stronger cooperation between EU Port State authorities through structured exchanges of information, experience, and good practices.
The Declaration on MLC Compliance, usually serves “as prima facie evidence of compliance with the requirement of MLC, 2006 during PSC inspections, but it goes without saying that it cannot replace rigorous inspection.
To close existing loopholes, the ETF urges the publication of an EMSA guidance document to help authorities address vague or ambiguous MLC provisions. Such guidance should include a clear overview of the most frequently detected MLC deficiencies by flag, together with explanations of flag-specific documentation and certification requirements.
A revision of the MLC and STCW frameworks aimed at reducing excessive working time limits for seafarers is more than necessary. In this context, the Commission should engage proactively with ongoing international processes, including the ILO–IMO Joint Tripartite Working Group (JTWG) on seafarers’ hours of work and hours of rest, which was agreed at the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC in April 2025. Such engagement is essential to ensure that future regulatory developments effectively strengthen the protection of seafarers’ health, safety and working conditions.
On this 20th anniversary, European Transport Workers’ Federation reaffirms that seafarers deserve more than words on paper—they deserve consistent, effective enforcement that guarantees their rights, dignity, and safety at sea.
