The Structure of the Maritime Labour Convention
• Title 2: Conditions of employment;
• Title 3: Accommodation, recreational facilities, food, and catering;
• Title 4: Health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection; and
• Title 5: Compliance and enforcement.
Each of the titles consists of regulations, framed with a stated purpose (which forms an introduction to each regulation), standards and guidelines. The standards all have mandatory force while the guidelines do not. For example, Title 1, which sets out the minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship, has four regulations: minimum age of people permitted to work aboard ship; provision of medical certificates; seafarers’ training and qualifications; and recruitment and placement.
Title 5 on compliance and enforcement, for example, addresses the following Flag Sate responsibilities:
• To define the national Flag State requirements;
• To inspect and certify vessels against the new Convention and national requirements;
• To authorize recognized organizations; and
• To have procedures for handling seafarers’ complaints.
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