Complaints relating conditions of employment continue to make up the majority (54 per cent) of the Maritime Labour Convention complaints reported to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority last year, AMSA has reported, which is consistent with previous years. The proportion of these complaints in relation to others decreased slightly from 57 per cent in 2022 to 54 per cent in 2023, it was noted.
These complaints continue to make the majority of complaints and relate to seafarer employment agreements, wages, hours of work, rest, entitlement to leave, repatriation and crewing levels.
The Maritime Labour Convention was adopted by the International Labour Organization, a specialised United Nations Agency, in February 2006.
Described by the ILO as the “seafarers’ bill of rights”, the Convention sets out a range of conditions related to seafaring including minimum age, seafarers’ employment agreements, hours of work / rest, wages, annual leave, repatriation, onboard medical care, the use of private recruitment services, accommodation food and catering, health and safety protection, seafarers’ complaint handling and more.
In Australia, the MLC has been implemented through via the Navigation Act 2012 and associated delegated legislation such as Marine Order 11 (Living and working conditions on vessels).
“Most of the MLC complaints originated directly from seafarers. This is likely a result of the increased awareness of seafarers’ rights under the MLC. Seafarers are therefore more confident that their concerns are taken seriously and treated confidentially when in Australia,” AMSA noted.
Shipping Australia CEO, Capt Melwyn Noronha, said: “seafarers must be paid their dues and repatriated in a timely manner – no excuses. We saw how seafarers were unduly punished curing the COVID crisis because of the actions of governments worldwide, including by Australian governments. It’s about time seafarers were designated as ‘essential workers’ in Australia”.
Graphic: Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
